THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


LITTLE    FREDDIE 
FEEDING      HIS      SOUL. 


LITTLE    FREDDIE 


FEEDING    HIS    SOUL. 


BY 


SAY    PUTNAM. 


NEW  YORK: 

ROBERT   CARTER  AND   BROTHERS, 
530,  BROADWAY. 

1869. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1869,  by 

ROBERT   CARTER   AND    BROTHERS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United   States, 
for  the  Southern  District  of   New  York. 


CAMBRIDGE  : 
rRESS   OP   JOHN   WILSON   AND   SON. 


CONTENTS. 


PACK 

I.    PAPA'S  PRAYER 9 

II.     GOING  FOR  MAMMA 34 

III.  UNCLE  DAVID'S  ELEPHANT 51 

IV.  THE  SLEIGH-RIDE 65 

V.    THE  GREAT  PICTURE 90 

VI.  THE  PLATE  OF  CANDY 104 

VII.  A  TALK  WITH  RIA 118 


622781 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAPA'S    PRAYER. 

<f"T\ONT  call  me  yet,  Susy;  I 
must  eat  another  buckwheat 
cake  for  my  soul." 

"  Eat  a  cake  for  your  soul !  What 
do  you  mean,  Freddie?  Father 
wouldn't  like  to  hear  you  say  that." 

"  Oh,  yes,  he  would !  for  I  heard 
him  pray  this  morning,  that  we  might 
take  food  for  our  souls;  and  I  know 
mine  is  hungry,  for  I  never  fed  it 
before." 

KO  Freddie,  you  silly  boy!  don't 
you  know  better  than  that?  I  do." 

"  Why,  what  do  you  feed  your  soul 
with,  Susy  ?  " 


10  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

"  Oh !  I  give  mine  hymns  and  such 
things.  Don't  you  know  mamma 
says  that's  what  does  our  souls 
good ! " 

"  My  soul  don't  like  hymns,  though. 
It  likes  buckwheat  cakes,  and  candy, 
and  such  things,"  insisted  Freddie. 

"  But  they  don't  have  cakes  and 
candy  in  heaven,"  said  Susy;  "and 
mamma  says  that  is  the  soul's  home." 

"  Do  you  think  they  have  hymns 
for  breakfast  in  heaven?" 

"Oh!  stop,  Freddie:  that  doesn't 
sound  nice.  I  don't  think  they  eat 
any  thing  in  heaven.  I  am  sure  they 
don't  have  breakfast  and  dinner  and 
supper.  I  never  heard  of  such  a  thing. 
They  sing  and  play  on  harps." 

" Oh,  yes ! "  said  Freddie ;  "  but  what 
do  you  think  papa  feeds  his  soul  with  ? 
I  am  going  to  ask  him." 

"  Papa  has  gone  to  Sunday  school. 


PAPA'S  PRATER.  II 

Let's  go  and  ask  Ria;  she  is  in  the 
nursery." 

Freddie  pushed  himself  and  his 
chair  vigorously  away  from  the  table, 
and  ran  upstairs.  Susy  followed, 
singing,  "  I  want  to  be  an  angel,"  by 
way  of  impressing  Freddie  that  she 
was  right. 

Freddie  rushed  into  the  nursery, 
and  asked  in  a  very  loud  voice,  "  Ria, 
what  do  you  feed  your  soul  with, 
—  candy  or  hymns  ?  " 

Ria  was  dressing  the  baby,  and 
looked  up  in  astonishment  at  Fred- 
die's strange  question. 

"Why,  I  don't  feed  my  soul  at  all," 
said  she:  "it  takes  care  of  itself;  it 
doesn't  need  any  food." 

"Yes,  it  does,"  said  Freddie:  "I 
know  it  does;  and  if  you  don't  feed  it, 
it  will  die,  just  as  Susy's  canary  bird 
did,  because  she  forgot  him.  I  know 


12  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

the  soul  eats  something,  and  I  want 
to  know  what  to  give  mine." 

"  Ria,"  said  Susy,  "  don't  you  think 
he'd  ought  to  give  it  hymns  and  verses 
in  the  Bible,  and  all  the  good  things?  " 

"Oh,  yes!"  said  Ria;  "that's  it: 
you  must  be  a  good  boy  and  learn  all 
the  hymns  and  verses  you  can,  and 
that  will  make  your  soul  grow." 

"Will  it?"  said  Freddie,  looking 
very  much  puzzled  j  "  but  I  can't  learn 
such  things,  I  am  such  a  little  boy; 
and,  besides,  my  soul  don't  like  them. 
Susy's  does.  I  wonder  if  mine  would- 
n't like  pictures." 

With  this  thought,  he  went  to  the 
lower  drawer  of  the  bureau,  where 
his  books  and  toys  were  put,  and 
seated  himself  upon  the  floor  to  con- 
sider the  matter. 

Meanwhile,  Susy,  who  thought  her 
soul  must  be  very  much  larger  and 


PAPA'S  PRATER.  13 

better  than  Freddie's,  began  to  sing 
again,  and  amused  herself  by  looking 
out  of  the  window. 

The  first  picture  Freddie  looked  at 
was  of  a  dog  bringing  a  stick  out  of 
the  water.  He  thought  his  soul  liked 
this  picture:  and,  while  he  was  dream- 
ing over  it,  he  began  to  wonder  if 
dogs  had  souls  too;  and,  if  so,  what 
they  lived  on.  He  was  sure  they 
couldn't  learn  hymns  and  wouldn't 
like  pictures. 

The  next  picture  had  five  little  kit- 
tens in  it.  Here  the  question  came 
again,  and  he  concluded  that  the  kit- 
ties couldn't  have  souls,  because  they 
could  only  play,  and  sleep,  and  lap  a 
little  milk. 

The  next  picture  made  him. think 
of  a  little  white  rabbit  he  had  last 
summer,  and  which  the  dog  killed: 
and  then  he  wondered  if  rabbits  went 


14  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

to  heaven;  and,  if  they  did,  if  they 
learned  to  sing  hymns. 

The  next  picture  was  of  a  squirrel, 
sitting  in  a  tree,  cracking  a  nut.  This 
made  him  think  about  a  walk  he  had 
with  his  uncle  in  the  woods,  and  what 
a  chase  they  had  to  catch  a  squirrel, 
which  ran  away  into  a  high  tree,  and 
sat  on  one  of  the  branches;  curling 
up  its  soft  bushy  tail,  and  looking 
down  at  them  very  provokingly. 

This  made  him  forget  for  the  time 
about  feeding  his  soul ;  and  he  wished 
it  was  summer,  and  that  he  could  go 
into  the  woods  again,  and  find  squir- 
rels, cones,  and  acorns,  and  fill  his 
pockets  with  them.  Then  he  piled 
up  some  acorns  he  had  in  the  drawer, 
and  tried  to  hold  one  up  and  munch 
it  like  the  squirrel.  This  amused  him 
very  much.  While  he  was  busy 
with  his  nut,  Susy  called  out,  "O 


PAPA'S  PRATER.  1 5 

Freddie!  there  is  Aunt  Mary  com- 
ing; I  am  going  downstairs  to  meet 
her." 

Freddie  dropped  his  nut,  and  went 
down  too,  —  rather  slowly,  though; 
for  he  did  not  stop  his  thinking  about 
the  woods  and  the  squirrels. 

Aunt  Mary  told  them,  that  their 
father  would  not  come  home  until 
evening,  as  he  had  gone  to  see  a  little 
boy  who  was  very  sick.  So  she  had 
come  to  take  dinner  with  them. 

The  children  felt  a  little  lonely,  as 
their  mother  had  gone  away  for  a  few 
days;  and  good  Aunt  Mary  came  up 
into  the  nursery,  until  dinner  was 
ready.  The  baby  was  asleep;  so  she 
sat  down  by  the  window  and  took 
Freddie  in  her  lap,  and  told  them 
about  the  little  boy,  who  was  so  sick 
that  they  thought  he  could  not  live 
many  hours. 


l6  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

Freddie  asked  if  he  could  eat  any 
thing. 

Aunt  Mary  said  no,  that  he  could 
only  take  a  little  drink  from  a  spoon. 

"  Has  he  got  any  soul,"  asked  Fred- 
die. 

«0h,  yes!" 

"  How  does  his  soul  live,  if  he  can't 
sing  hymns,  or  say  verses,  or  see  pic- 
tures ;  and  can't  eat  anything  ?  " 

"Oh!  his  soul  doesn't  need  to  eat, 
in  order  to  live;  but  his  body  needs 
to  eat,  in  order  to  keep  the  soul  in  it." 

w  But  papa  prayed  this  morning  that 
our  souls  might  have  food;  and  Susy 
says  she  feeds  hers  on  hymns  and 
verses:  and  I  don't  know  what  to 
give  mine,  because  it  don't  like  such 
things.  I  tried  to  find  some  pictures 
to  give  it,  and  I  thought  perhaps  it 
would  like  a  buckwheat  cake;  but 
Susy  laughed  at  me  for  that." 


Freddie. 


AUNT  MARY. 


PAPA'S  PRATER.  1 7 

Aunt  Mary  could  not  help  laughing 
too;  but  she  called  Freddie  a  good 
little  boy,  for  trying  to  feed  his  soul. 

She  then  explained  to  him,  that  his 
body  was  the  home  of  his  soul,  while 
it  was  in  this  world,  and  when  the 
body  died  then  the  soul  went  to  anoth- 
er home,  which  his  heavenly  Father 
had  prepared  for  it;  that  while  his 
body  lived,  it  needed  food  to  keep  it 
alive,  just  as  the  dogs  and  cats  and 
birds  did.  She  told  him  that  his  soul 
needed  food  too;  but  that  it  was  a 
very  different  kind  from  that  which 
his  body  needed.  She  said  that  wis- 
dom would  feed  his  soul.  Then  she 
asked  Susy  to  say  one  of  her  verses. 
Susy  thought  a  moment,  and  then 
repeated, "  I  love  them  that  love  me." 
:?  Yes,"  said  Aunt  Mary:  "Jesus  says 
that.  Now,  Freddie,  can  you  think 
what  that  means  ?  " 


1 8  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

Freddie  looked  as  if  he  was  trying 
very  hard  to  think. 

'  You  know  what  it  means  when  I 
say,  /  love  you  ?  " 

"Oh,  yes,  ma'am!  "said  Freddie, 
looking  very  bright. 

"  And  you  understand  when  I  say, 
You  love  me  ?  " 

?  Why, yes,  ma'am" 

w  Now,  do  you  understand  this, 
When  you  love  me,  then  I  love  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes !  it  means  that  when  I 
put  my  arms  around  your  neck,  then 
you  will  put  your  arms  around  mine." 

"  Not  exactly.  You  love  me,  don't 
you,  without  putting  your  arms  around 
my  neck  ?  " 

:<  Yes,  ma'am,"  said  Freddie,  smil- 
ing and  looking  up  into  his  aunt's  kind 
face,  with  his  sweet  blue  eyes  beam- 
ing with  his  soul's  offering. 

*  You  feel  that   I   love  you :  don't 


PAPA'S  PRATER.  1 9 

you  ?  "  and  her  eyes  looked  love  back 
to  his. 

Freddie  nodded  his  head  two  or 
three  times,  but  did  not  speak. 

"Now,  if  you  should  shut  your 
eyes  and  not  see  me,  can't  you  feel 
that  you  love  me,  and  that  I  love 
you  ?  " 

The  lids  shut  down  over  the  sweet 
eyes,  and  the  rosy  face  was  still  for  a 
minute,  with  only  a  stray  dimple  here 
and  there,  showing  the  working  of 
the  soul  within. 

Then  the  dimples  grew  deeper,  and 
Freddie  burst  into  a  merry  laugh. 

"  O  aunty !  that  is  good :  my  soul 
loved  so  hard  that  it  made  me  laugh." 

K  Then  the  thought,  that  you  loved 
me,  and  that  I  loved  you,  did  your 
soul  good.  It  was  fed.  Now  shut 
up  your  eyes,  and  think  of  Jesus  in 
the  same  way." 


20  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

"Oh!  I  don't  know  Jesus;  I  don't 
love  him;  I  don't  want  to  think  about 
him." 

"  Oh !  isn't  he  naughty,  aunty,"  said 
Susy,  "to  talk  so  about  Jesus?" 

"Why,  did  you  ever  see  Jesus, 
Susy?  "  asked  Freddie. 

"Oh,  no !  but  then  I  know  he's  some- 
body that  loves  me,  because  the  hymn 
says  so ;  and  it  says  too,  that  the  Bible 
says  so." 

Just  then  the  dinner-bell  rang,  and 
Freddie  ran  to  the  drawer  after  an 
acorn,  to  show  his  aunty  that  he  could 
eat  like  a  squirrel. 

When  Aunt  Mary  asked  the  blessing 
at  the  table,  she  said,  "  Bless  this  food 
to  our  bodies,  and  our  souls  too." 

Freddie's  wistful  blue  eyes  were 
looking  at  her  when  she  opened 
hers. 

:c  Why  aunty,  there  isn't  any  /  love 


PAPA'S  PRATER.  21 

you  and  me  on  this  table :  what  made 
you  pray  that  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes !  there  is.  If  our  heav- 
enly Father  did  not  love  you  and  me, 
he  would  not  have  given  us  this  food 
for  our  bodies." 

f?Why,  does  he  give  me  potatoes 
and  such  things  ?  " 

:?  Yes :  he  made  the  potatoes  grow 
in  the  ground,  and  then  he  let  some 
of  them  come  here  for  you.  And, 
besides,  he  makes  you  like  them,  so 
that  they  will  do  you  good." 

"  There,"  said  Susy,  "  don't  you 
know  I  told  you  that  Jesus  loved 
us?" 

?c  Oh !  Jesus  isn't  heavenly  Father," 
said  Freddie. 

"  Yes,  he  ts"  said  Susy,  very  posi- 
tively. 

"  He  is  only  a  baby,"  said  Freddie. 
"  Ma  showed  me  the  picture  of  him 


22  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

lying  on  a  pillow,  with  a  star  upon 
his  head." 

"  But  he  grew  up  after  that,"  said 
Susy,  "because  he  took  little  chil- 
dren in  his  arms,  and  said,  ?  Suffer 
little  children  to  come  unto  me;' 
and  then  he  went  up  to  heaven 
after  he  had  died,  and  I  know  he  is 
up  there  now;  and,  if  I  should  die, 
I  should  go  right  up  there  and  see 
him." 

"  If  you  love  God,  your  heavenly 
Father,"  said  Aunt  Mary,  "  it  is  just 
the  same  as  loving  Jesus,  his  Son;  and 
if  God  loves  you,  then  Jesus  loves 
you.  Jesus  himself  says,  f  I  and  my 
Father  are  one.' 

"  He  came  from  heaven,  Freddie, 
to  be  a  little  baby,  and  grow  up,  and 
die,  and  then  go  back  again;  and  he 
did  all  that,  because  he  loved  us;  and 
we  shall  know  all  about  how  much 


PAPA'S  PRAYER.  23 

he  loved  us  just  as  soon  as  we  begin 
to  love  him." 

w  I  guess  I  will  love  him,"  said 
Freddie:  "will  he  feed  my  soul?  " 

:?  Yes:  if  you  ask  him,  he  will  give 
it  all  the  food  it  wants.  You  know, 
when  you  say  ?  Our  Father,'  you 
pray,  'Give  us  this  day  our  daily 
bread : '  that  means  bread  for  the 
soul  as  well  as  the  body." 

After  dinner,  Aunt  Mary  sent  up 
to  have  the  baby  brought  down. 

Sweet,  rosy,  fat,  blue-eyed  Lily! 
She  had  only  lived  a  few  months  in 
this  world  of  ours,  and  seemed  to 
have  a  beam  from  heaven  playing 
about  her  all  the  time. 

Aunt  Mary  took  her,  and  the  chil- 
dren kissed  her  soft  cheeks  and  dim- 
pled arms  and  hands;  and  she  patted 
back  her  love  and  curiosity,  talking 
to  them  in  a  succession  of  soft  goo- 


24  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

goos,  which  were  very  entertaining. 
When  Freddie  clapped  his  hands, 
she  would  laugh,  and  try  to  spring 
up  as  if  she  was  going  to  fly. 

She  had  an  ivory  ring  fastened  by 
a  white  ribbon  to  her* waist,  and  Susy 
held  it  up  before  her  and  let  it  swing 
gently,  to  see  if  she  would  catch  it. 
Lily  watched  it  in  rather  a  dreamy 
way,  holding  up  first  one  little  hand 
and  then  the  other,  as  it  came  near 
her. 

"She  is  trying  to  understand  it,"  said 
Aunt  Mary:  "her  soul  wants  food." 

"Why,  has  she  got  a  soul  too?" 
said  Freddie,  "  such  a  little  baby!  " 

:tYes:  she  is  learning  all  the  time 
from  every  thing  around  her,  and  her 
soul  thinks  after  a  baby  fashion;  and, 
when  she  is  a  little  older,  mamma 
will  teach  her  to  say  'Our  Father,' 
just  as  she  taught  you  and  Susy." 


PAPA'S  PRAYER.  25 

"When  do  you  think  papa  will 
come?"  said  Susy. 

"  I  thought  I  heard  his  step  in  the 
hall  a  moment  ago;  perhaps  he  has 
gone  upstairs  to  find  us." 

Susy  started  in  search,  and  soon 
returned  full  of  prattle,  holding  her 
father's  hand. 

"  O  father,  how  glad  I  am  you  have 
come!  "  said  Freddie,  dancing  up  and 
down,  first  on  one  foot  and  then  on 
the  other,  and  seizing  the  hand 
stretched  out  to  him. 

"  I  am  glad  to  get  home,"  said  his 
father:  "the  day  has  seemed  long." 

"Come,  Lily,  pet,  come  to  papa! 
let  me  have  my  hands,  children,  for 
her,  and  you  may  have  my  knees." 

So  saying,  he  took  the  springing, 
beaming  Lily,  and  sat  down  for  Susy 
and  Freddie  to  climb  on  his  knees. 

"  Three  precious  little  immortals," 


26  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

said  he,  "  with  your  rosy  smiling 
faces!  Ah,  you  Lily,  rogue!  you 
mean  to  have  a  handful  of  my  whisk- 
ers: stop,  my  little  lady." 

"  Here,  Lily,"  said  Susy,  "take  your 
ring." 

"  She  is  going  to  feed  her  soul  on 
whiskers;  it  has  had  ring  enough," 
said  Freddie. 

"O  papa!"  said  Susy,  "you  don't 
know  how  funny  Freddie  has  been 
talking  all  day,  about  giving  his  soul 
something  to  eat." 

"  Freddie  don't  mean  to  let  his  soul 
starve,"  said  Aunt  Mary;  "and  he  is 
right." 

"I  only  did  what  papa  prayed," 
said  Freddie,  "  about  our  souls  having 
food.  I  thought  if  my  soul  was  hun- 
gry, perhaps  it  would  die  if  I  didn't 
feed  it,  as  Susy's  canary  bird  did." 

"  My  soul   won't  die,"   said   Susy, 


PAPA'S  PRATER.  27 

w  because  I  know  so  many  hymns 
and  verses." 

"I  think  I  shall  love  Jesus,"  said 
Freddie,  "  for  aunty  says  he  will  feed 
my  soul." 

"  That's  it,  my  boy,"  said  his  father. 
"  I  will  tell  you  what  made  me  pray 
that  our  souls  might  have  food.  I 
had  been  reading  in  the  sixth  chapter 
of  John  what  Jesus  said  himself:  ?  My 
Father  giveth  you  the  true  bread  from 
heaven.  For  the  bread  of  God  is  he 
which  cometh  down  from  heaven  and 
giveth  life  unto  the  world.  I  am  the 
bread  of  life:  he  that  cometh  unto 
me  shall  never  hunger;  and  he  that 
believeth  on  me  shall  never  thirst.' ' 

:?  When  our  heavenly  Father  made 
our  bodies,  he  made  souls  to  live  in 
them;  and  they  begin  to  think  and 
try  to  understand,  from  the  first. 
Lily,  you  see,  is  trying  to  get  at 


28  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

something  new  all  the  time.  As 
we  grow  older,  our  souls  want  some- 
thing besides  what  we  see  around  us; 
and  then  we  must  go  to  Jesus  for  the 
Bread  of  Life,  which  cometh  down 
from  Heaven." 

"  Why,  I  thought  we  ought  to  learn 
hymns  and  verses,"  said  Susy. 

'*  That  is  one  way  to  get  the  food; 
because,  if  they  are  in  the  mind,  they 
will  be  already  for  use.  But  you 
must  use  them,  or  it  will  do  no  good 
to  learn  them.  If  I  should  go  and 
buy  a  great  many  loaves  of  bread,  so 
that  we  could  have  them  when  we 
were  hungry,  and  they  should  be  put 
away  in  the  closet  and  never  eaten, 
they  would  do  no  good." 

"But  we  should  eat  them  if  we 
were  really  hungry,"  said  Susy. 

:t  Yes :  we  should  attend  to  the 
wants  of  our  bodies  very  quickly,  be- 


PAPA'S  PRATER.  2$ 

cause  we  have  learned  how,  and  we 
enjoy  doing  it.  So,  when  our  souls 
are  hungry,  we  must  know  how  to 
take  the  food  from  our  store  and 
give  them,  just  as  quickly  and  with 
just  as  much  interest." 

"Just  as  you  tried  to  do,  Susy," 
said  Aunt  Mary,  "  when  I  asked  you 
to  say  one  of  your  verses,  and  you 
had  it  ready,  — ?  I  love  them  that  love 
me.' " 

"And  I  know  another  one,"  said 
Susy,  quickly,  —  " ?  I  am  the  way,  the 
truth,  and  the  life.' " 

:?  Very  well :  feed  your  soul  with 
that,  when  it  is  hungry,"  said  her 
father. 

"  I  like  the  other  best,"  said  Fred- 
die: "it  feels  so  good  to  love." 

"Dear  child,"  said  his  father,  put- 
ting his  arm  around  him,  " r  Love  is 
the  fulfilling  the  law,'  and  the  longer 


30  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

you  love,  the  better  you  will  under- 
stand that.  Love  on,  my  boy,  and 
dear  Jesus  will  teach  you." 

By  this  time,  Lily  was  so  restless 
that  Ria  came  and  took  her  upstairs; 
and  Mr.  Percy,  after  putting  the  chil- 
dren on  the  sofa,  beside  him,  told 
them  and  Aunt  Mary  about  the  little 
boy  he  had  been  with  that  day,  whose 
soul  had  now  gone  to  its  heavenly 
home. 

"Won't  it  come  back  here?"  said 
Freddie. 

w  No, "  said  his  father.  "  They  will 
lay  his  body  away  in  the  ground:  his 
soul  will  have  no  more  use  for  that, 
as  it  has  gone  to  another  home." 

"  Where  is  that  home  ? "  asked 
Freddie. 

:?  With  Jesus  in  heaven,  we  hope," 
said  his  father.  "  He  was  one  of 
the  scholars  in  my  class  in  the  Sun- 


PAPA'S  PRAYER.  31 

day  school;  and,  I  think,  he  un- 
derstood about  the  Saviour  and  loved 
him." 

"  This  morning,  his  mother  was 
holding  him  in  her  arms;  his  head 
was  resting  on  a  pillow,  and  he 
seemed  to  be  asleep.  While  she  sat 
looking  at  his  pale,  patient  face,  he 
opened  his  eyes,  looked  at  her  ear- 
nestly, and  said  gently,  ?  Sing  "Jesus 
loves  me." ;  She  sang  all  the  verses 
to  him:  can  you  repeat  them,  Susy?" 

"Yes,  sir,— 

"  'Jesus  loves  me  :  this  I  know, 
For  the  Bible  tells  me  so; 
Little  ones  to  him  belong: 
They  are  weak,  but  he  is  strong. 

Jesus  loves  me,  he  who  died, 
Heaven's  gate  to  open  wide ; 
He  will  wash  away  my  sin, 
Let  his  little  child  come  in. 

Jesus  loves  me,  — loves  me  still, 
Though  I'm  very  weak  and  ill ; 
From  his  shining  throne  on  high, 
Comes  to  watch  me  where  I  lie. 


32  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

Jesus  loves  me,  he  will  stay 
Close  beside  me  all  the  way; 
If  I  love  him,  when  I  die 
He  will  take  me  home  on  high.' " 

"  After  she  had  sung  it,  she  said  to 
him,  'Do  you  love  Jesus?'  He  nod- 
ded his  head  several  times  in  assent, 
and  whispered,  '  Yes. '  'Does  he  love 
you? '  she  said,  and  he  made  the  same 
reply.  'Do  you  want  to  go  to  him?' 
'Yes,'  he  replied:  'he  is  coming,  and 
I  will  go.' " 

"  Did  you  ever  think  before,  Susy, 
how  much  that  hymn  meant  that  you 
have  just  repeated  ?  " 

"No,  sir." 

:t  You  see  it  was  all  his  soul  needed 
in  his  suffering  and  weakness.  What 
a  blessing  it  was  to  him  to  know  it  all 
as  he  did,  and  know  how  to  feed  his 
soul  with  it  in  the  time  of  its  greatest 
want!" 

"  Will  his  soul  get  food  in  heaven  ?  " 
asked  Freddie. 


PAPA'S  PRATER.  33 

w  Oh,  yes!  better  there  than  it  would 
here." 

"Won't  it  grow  fast!  but  I  shouldn't 
like  to  go  to  heaven  without  you  and 
mamma.  I  shall  take  care  when  I 
am  walking,  not  to  walk  up  on  to  the 
sky,  because  then  I  should  die." 

"  If  you  love  Jesus,  he  will  teach 
you  how  to  live,  and  die  too;  and  you 
will  not  fear  one  any  more  than  the 
other." 

Tea  was  ready  now,  and  after  that 
the  children  were  soon  asleep. 


CHAPTER  II. 

GOING  FOR  MAMMA. 

HHE  next  morning,  Freddie  opened 
his  eyes  when  the  sun  was  shin- 
ing brightly,  and  looked  up  into  the 
sky,  from  his  little  bed,  and  wondered 
how  far  off  heaven  was  and  how  it 
looked. 

While  he  was  thinking  about  it, 
Ria  came  to  dress  him. 

"  Ria,"  said  he,  "  how  do  you  sup- 
pose heaven  looks  ?  " 

"Dear  me!  what  a  queer  boy  you 
are!  I  don't  know  any  thing  about 
heaven.  I  suppose  it  is  a  pretty  bright, 
place,  where  we  shall  have  every  thing 
that  we  want." 


GOING  FOR  MAMMA.  35 

w  Oh  dear,  you  don't  know!  I  mean 
to  ask  Jesus;  perhaps  he  will  tell  me 
somehow.  I  wish  I  knew  where  I 
could  find  Jesus." 

This  silenced  Ria,  for  she  couldn't 
help  thinking  that  she  ought  to  know 
more  about  such  things,  and  while 
thinking  wished  that  she,  too,  could 
know  where  to  find  Jesus. 

Freddie  was  silent  and  thoughtful 
while  Ria  dressed  him,  but,  when  he 
was  sitting  in  the  chair  for  her  to  but- 
ton his  boots,  he  said  suddenly,  "  Oh,  I 
know!  when  I  say  ?  Our  Father,'  I'll 
ask  him  to  tell  me  where  to  find 
Jesus." 

As  soon  as  the  boots  were  on,  and 
he  was  washed  and  brushed,  ready  for 
breakfast,  he  kneeled  down  to  say  his 
prayers  as  usual. 

"  Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven," 
said  he,  slowly  and  earnestly;  and  then 


36  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

he  stopped  and  hesitated  whether  he 
should  say  the  whole  prayer  first,  but 
he  was  too  eager  with  his  own  spe- 
cial want,  and  he  added,  "please  tell 
me  where  Jesus  is,  for  I  love  him; 
and  I  want  him  to  feed  my  soul 
and  tell  me  about  heaven;"  then 
he  stopped  again;  and  then  said 
"Amen,"  very  solemnly,  and  got 
up  from  his  knees,  looking  quite 
satisfied. 

Ria  said  the  prayer  too,  in  her  own 
heart,  for  she  had  never  before  felt 
such  a  want. 

Freddie  did  not  say  any  thing  about 
it  when  he  went  downstairs,  for  he 
kept  thinking  that  Jesus  would  come 
to  him,  in  some  way,  without  any- 
body's knowing  it;  and  the  thought 
made  him  very  happy.  v 

"  Good  morning,  Sunshine,"  said 
his  father,  for  Freddie's  blue  eyes  had 


GOING  FOR  MAMMA.  37 

a  very  bright  twinkle  in  them,  as  he 
sat  down  to  breakfast. 

"  How  should  you  like  to  go  into 
the  country  this  afternoon,  to  Uncle 
David's,  and  see  mamma?" 

"  I  should  like  to  go  and  bring  her 
home." 

"O  papa!"  said  Susy,  "can't  we 
stay  there  a  little  while?  I  want  to 
play  with  cousin  Olive." 

"  And  I  want  to  see  the  rabbits,"  said 
Freddie,  "  and  feed  them  with  cab- 
bage-leaves. They  do  eat  so  funny." 

:?Yes:  we  shall  be  there  a  day  or 
two,  so  that  you  both  can  have  your 
wish,  and  then  we  will  bring  mamma 
back  with  us." 

After  breakfast,  the  children  com- 
menced the  most  active  preparations 
for  their  visit.  Susy  selected  her  fav- 
orite dolls,  and  "  packed  their  trunk" 
with  the  utmost  care  and  anxiety. 


38  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

Freddie  filled  his  pockets  with  all 
sorts  of  playthings,  —  a  little  boat,  a 
top,  a  long  piece  of  string  wound  up, 
a  ball,  a  whistle,  a  pop-gun.  All  these 
he  had,  after  many  efforts,  stowed 
away  into  his  two  little  pockets;  and 
then  he  began  to  study  the  subject  of 
his  bow  and  arrows.  It  was  evident 
that  his  pockets  would  not  be  suffi- 
cient; and  he  was  about  to  resort  to 
the  leg  of  his  full  pantaloons,  when 
Ria  persuaded  him  to  wait  until  Aunt 
Mary  came,  who  was  to  get  them 
ready. 

Freddie  consented  to  wait,  but 
thought  it  would  be  best,  probably, 
for  him  to  carry  them  in  his  hand,  as 
his  father  might  wish  him  to  shoot  a 
pigeon  or  two  on  the  way.  This  val- 
iant thought  sustained  him  until  Aunt 
Mary  came,  who  persuaded  the  chil- 
dren to  leave  all  their  playthings  at 


GOING  FOR   MAMMA.  39 

home,  as  they  would  only  be  gone  a 
few  days,  and  would  find  enough  there 
to  amuse  them. 

Uncle  David's  carnage  came  for 
them  soon  after  dinner,  and  they  went 
off  in  high  glee. 

Freddie  had  begged  so  hard  to  have 
his  bow  and  arrows  on  the  seat  be- 
side him,  that  his  father  gave  him 
permission;  and  Susy  took  "Madie," 
her  "  very  biggest "  doll,  whom  she 
had  carefully  cloaked,  hooded,  and 
tippeted  for  the  occasion. 

Freddie  asked  a  great  many  ques- 
tions about  things  that  they  saw;  but, 
when  they  were  fairly  out  of  the  city, 
he  began  to  look  quite  eagerly  for 
pigeons. 

After  an  hour's  ride,  however,  when 
they  were  coming  nearer  to  his  uncle's 
home,  where  his  mother  was,  he  did 
not  think  so  much  about  the  pigeons; 


4°  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

but,  when  he  looked  over  the  tops  of 
the  trees  and  hills,  he  seemed  to  see 
his  mother's  face,  full  of  affectionate 
welcome  for  him.  He  did  not  say  any 
thing  about  it  to  his  father  and  Susy; 
for,  although  it  was  very  real  to  his 
mind's  eye,  he  did  not  seem  to  think 
that  they  saw  it  too.  They  were  busy 
talking  while  he  was  looking,  and 
hardly  noticed  how  still  he  was,  un- 
til his  father  saw  that  he  was  fast 
asleep,  with  his  head  against  the  win- 
dow. He  gently  laid  him  in  an  easy 
position,  covering  him  carefully,  and 
then  he  and  Susy  talked  in  very  low 
voices,  so  that  he  should  not  be  dis- 
turbed. 

The  road  was  quite  rough  from  the 
frost;  and  Freddie  would  now  and 
then  open  his  eyes,  and  speak  as  if 
he  was  dreaming.  When,  at  length, 
the  carriage  stopped  before  his  uncle's 


GOING  FOR  MAMMA.  4* 

door,  he  started  up,  exclaiming,  "  Oh, 
yes,  mamma!  I'm  almost  come." 

His  mother  had  been  looking  and 
watching  too,  and  she  appeared  at 
the  door,  as  soon  as  the  carriage 
stopped. 

The  greetings  were  very  cordial  in 
the  hall,  when  the  travellers  were 
fairly  in,  and  Freddie  was  very  soon 
seated  in  his  mamma's  lap.  He  would 
not  suffer  any  one  else  to  take  off  the 
many  warm  WTaps  with  which  Aunt 
Mary's  care  had  invested  him. 

The  little  cousins  carried  Susy  off 
in  triumph,  and  soon  stripped  her  and 
Madie  of  their  out-door  plumage, 
and  commenced  their  play  in  good 
earnest. 

Freddie  had  waked  so  suddenly 
from  his  dreaming  nap,  that  he  had 
not  made  sure  that  any  thing  was  real 
but  his  mother's  face. 


42  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

He  soon  recovered  himself,  how- 
ever, and  answered  all  his  mother's 
questions,  in  his  own  queer  way;  and 
gave  her  an  animated  account  of  Lily 
and  Ria,  of  Aunt  Mary's  visit,  and 
how  he  could  eat  an  acorn  like  a 
squirrel,  and  that  he  had  been  trying 
to  feed  his  soul -and  to  find  out  where 
Jesus  was.  Then  he  kissed  her,  and 
ran  off  to  play  with  the  children, 
among  whom  he  was  soon  the  loudest 
and  merriest. 

Freddie's  mother  was  one  of  those 
faithful  ones  who  desire  to  do  their 
whole  duty  to  their  children. 

His  peculiar  mind,  and  eager  seek- 
ing for  truth,  had  made  her  very 
watchful  to  find  out  his  thoughts  and 
try  to  guide  them.  She  had  thought 
of  him  more  than  usual  during  this, 
her  short  absence  from  home,  and  had 
herself  asked  Jesus  to  teach  him. 


GOING  FOR  MAMMA.  43 

What  Freddie  had  said,  about  trying 
to  feed  his  soul  and  to  find  Jesus,  made 
her  think  intently,  while  she  sat 
where  he  had  left  her. 

Her  prayer  had  been  answered; 
now,  what  should  she  do  next?  She 
thought  it  over  and  over,  and  was  so 
absorbed  that  she  scarcely  noticed 
what  was  passing  around,  until  the 
summons  to  tea  aroused  her.  Then 
she  mentally  prayed  with  all  the  de- 
sire of  a  hungry  soul,  —  "O  heavenly 
Father!  teach  me,  that  I  may  teach 
him." 

After  tea,  Freddie  was  very  ready 
to  go  upstairs  with  his  mother,  and 
prepare  to  go  to  bed.  She  took  him 
to  her  room,  where  there  was  a  bright 
fire  burning  in  the  grate.  While  she 
was  undressing  him,  he  told  her  that 
he  saw  her  in  the  sky,  while  he  was 
looking  for  pigeons.  :?You  looked, 


44  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

mamma,"  said  he,  "  as  if  you  wanted 
to  come  to  me,  but  you  didn't.  You 
kept  smiling  and  smiling  to  me,  and 
then  I  went  to  sleep.  What  made 
me  see  you,  mamma,  when  you 
wasn't  there  ?  " 

"  It  was  because  you  were  think- 
ing about  me,  and  wanting  to  see  me; 
and  then,  perhaps,  you  were  partly 
asleep  and  dreaming  a  little.  It  was 
your  own  thought  that  made  a  pic- 
ture of  me  in  the  sky." 

"Was  it?  why,  how  nice!  Then, 
when  I  don't  like  that  you  are  gone, 
I  will  be  all  think  about  you,  and 
then  look  up  into  the  sky,  and  see 
you  all  beautiful;"  and  Freddie,  who 
was  now  robed  for  the  night,  capered 
about  the  room  with  his  little  bare 
feet,  peeping  at  his  mother  from  be- 
hind the  chairs,  and  calling  out  mer- 
rily, "  I  spy,"  till  she  caught  him,  and 


GOING  FOR  MAMMA.  45 

turned  the  little  bare  feet  to  the  fire, 
while  she  held  him  in  her  lap. 

:<:  You  could  see  me  just  as  well," 
said  she,  "when  you  are  thinking 
about  me,  if  you  should  shut  your 
eyes,  for  you  see  me  with  your 
thoughts.  And  didn't  you  tell  me  that 
you  had  been  trying  to  find  Jesus  ?  " 

:<:  Yes,  ma'am ;  but  I  only  found 
you." 

"And  the  way  you  found  me  is  the 
way  to  find  him.  He  has  been  teach- 
ing you  how,  in  a  way  that  you  can 
understand." 

"Why,  shall  I  see  his  face  in  the 
sky?" 

"You  will  see  him  with  your 
thoughts  everywhere,  for  he  is  al- 
ways present  to  those  who  try  to 
find  him.  He  says,  ?  I  love  them  that 
love  me,  and  they  that  seek  me  early 
shall  find  me.'" 


46  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

"Well,  I  did;  for  I  prayed  about 
it  early  this  morning,  and  I  didn't  tell 
anybody,  but  I  have  known  about 
him  all  day." 

"  Pray  again  now,"  said  his  mother. 

So  Freddie  kneeled  down,  closed 
his  sweet  eyes,  and  leaned  his  cheek 
against  her  lap. 

"  Our  Father,  dear  Jesus,"  he  said 
gently,  "  please  tell  me  if  you  are 
here,  just  like  my  mother,  and  please 
tell  me  what  you  know,  because  I  am 
a  little  boy  and  don't  know  any  thing. 
Amen." 

"Is  that  what  you  prayed  this 
morning?"  said  his  mother,  as  Fred- 
die opened  his  eyes  and  looked  at 
her. 

"No,  ma'am;  I  asked  our  Father 
to  tell  me  where  to  find  Jesus,  be- 
cause I  wanted  him  to  feed  my  soul 
and  tell  me  about  heaven." 


GOING  FOR   MAMMA.  47 

w  And  why  didn't  you  pray  that  to- 
night ?  " 

"Oh!  because  I  thought  I  would 
speak  to  Jesus,  for  I  know  him  just  a 
little." 

"  Do  you  ?  ah !  then  he  has  been 
feeding  your  soul  to-day." 

"  Has  he?  and  do  you  think  he  will 
tell  me  what  I  want  to  know?  " 

"  Try  it  and  see,  but  you  mustn't 
forget  about  it  yourself;  and  you 
must  be  a  good  friend  to  Jesus  all 
the  time,  and  not  grieve  him,  because 
that  will  drive  him  right  away  from 
you." 

"  Oh !  I  won't  hurt  him,  for  I  love 
him,  and  I  like  to  love  him  too." 

"  Love  on  then,  and  he  will  tell 
you  more  than  mamma  or  any  one 
else  can." 

Freddie  was  lying  now  in  his 
little  bed,  where  his  mother  had 


48  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

carefully  placed  him  and  arranged 
every  thing  for  his  comfort. 

His  bright  rosy  face  and  expressive 
eyes  were  full  of  love,  as  he  kissed 
her  good-night;  and  she  felt  when 
she  left  him,  that  kind  angels  were 
watching  around  to  guard  and  bless 
him. 

She  felt  very  thankful  and  happy 
as  she  went  downstairs,  for  Jesus 
seemed  very  near  to  her  too,  and 
more  precious  than  ever,  for  he  had 
embraced  her  child. 

A  burst  of  merriment  greeted  her 
when  she  opened  the  parlor-door;  for 
Uncle  David  had  been  preparing  an 
elephant  for  the  amusement  of  the 
children,  and  it  was  a  great  success. 

"Where's  Freddie?"  said  he; 
"gone  to  bed!  Thats  too  bad.  I 
wanted  to  hear  some  of  his  wise 
speeches  about  my  elephant.  What 


GOING  FOR  MAMMA.  49 

did  you  put  him  to  bed  so  early 
for?" 

"He  was  tired  after  his  ride  in  the 
cold  this  afternoon.  I  did  not  know, 
however,  that  you  had  an  elephant 
ready  for  exhibition  this  evening." 

tf  The  children  were  so  clamorous 
for  something  to-night,  that  I  had  to 
resort  to  my  elephant  in  self-defence. 
Don't  you  think  him  a  good  speci- 
men? Come  here,  sir.  I  tried  to 
have  the  baby  make  his  acquaintance, 
the  other  evening,  but  she  was  so 
frightened,  that  they  had  to  carry 
her  off." 

"Don't  you  be  alarmed,  I  beg  of 
you;  for  he  is  under  excellent  train- 
ing: he  is  coming  to  make  your  ac- 
quaintance. You  see  he  walks  pretty 
well.  His  trunk  is  rather  stiff,  to  be 
sure;  and  his  eyes  are  not  very  ex- 
pressive. His  ears  are  good,  how- 
4 


50  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

ever;  see!  he  will  mind  when  I  tell 
him  to  go  home.  Look  here,  sir; 
you  may  go  home  now." 

The  unwieldy  individual  stopped 
suddenly,  and  then  turned  slowly 
away,  followed  by  the  shouting  chil- 
dren, who  literally  covered  his  re- 
treat. Uncle  David  followed  too, 
and  mysteriously  waved  the  children 
back  into  the  parlor,  while  he  "  took 
the  elephant  home." 


CHAPTER   III. 

UNCLE   DAVID'S   ELEPHANT. 

HHE  next  morning  the  children 
found,  to  their  great  joy,  that 
the  ground  was  covered  with  snow, 
and  that  the  air  was  full  of  it  too,  — 
so  full  that  they  could  scarcely  see 
the  river  and  the  hills  from  the  library 
window. 

"  O  Ferd!  "  said  little  Sophie,  "you 
will  take  me  a  coast-ride  on  your 
sled:  won't  you? " 

"Perhaps  so,  if  it  snows  enough." 

"Oh!  I  guess  it  will  snow  a  whole 
quart,  before  it  stops." 

This  brought  a  shout  from  the 
whole  family;  and  Sophie  laughed 


5  2  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

louder  than  any  of  them,  although 
she  did  not  exactly  know  why. 

"  I  think  it  will  be  a  six-footer," 
said  Bob. 

"What  do  you  think,  Freddie," 
said  Uncle  David. 

"  Oh !  I  think  there  will  be  enough 
for  the  angels  to  play  in,  for  it  reaches 
up  to  the  sky." 

:?  What  do  you  know  about  angels, 
my  little  one  ?  " 

Freddie  screwed  up  his  mouth, 
and  shook  his  head  very  wisely,  as  if 
he  knew  much,  but  could  not  tell 
any  thing. 

"  Oh!  angels  don't  play  with  snow, 
Freddie,"  said  Susy:  "they  don't  do 
any  thing  but  sing  and  play  on 
harps." 

"Oh,  yes,  they  do!  I  know  that 
very  well,"  said  he. 

"Oh!  never  mind  the  angels,"  said 


UNCLE  DAVID'S  ELEPHANT.        53 

Bob;  "you  ought  to  have  seen  the 
elephant  last  night." 

"  Oh,  yes !  "  said  Sophie,  "  a  great 
elephant!  He  walked  right  into  the 
parlor,  and  he  had  gum-shoes  on, 
and  papa  lent  him  his  shawl  to  wear, 
because  he  said  it  made  him  look 
better,  and  he  put  his  long  nose  " — 

"  Nose!  "  said  Bob,  contemptuously, 
"  his  trunk  you  mean." 

"No:  'twas  his  nose;  he  put  it 
right  out  to  me,  and  I  ranned  right 
away." 

"  Afraid  of  a  nose !  "  said  Bob. 

"Well,  it  was  so  long  that  I  was 
afraid  it  would  hit  me." 

"  Did  you  know  that  an  elephant 
could  double  up  his  nose,  and  put  it 
in  his  mouth  ?  " 

"Why,  no,"  said  Sophie;  "what 
for?" 

"To  eat." 


54  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

"What!  does  he  eat  his  nose?" 
and  Sophie  looked  disgusted. 

"  Of  course,"  said  Bob:  "it  is  so 
long,  it  does  very  well." 

«  O  Bob,  don't!  "  said  Ferd;  «  look 
here,  little  Sis.  That  long  nose,  as  you 
call  it,  the  elephant  uses  to  pick  up  his 
food  with,  and  put  it  into  his  mouth, 
and  it  is  called  his  trunk." 

"  But  Uncle  David's  elephant  didn't 
double  up  his  trunk,"  said  Susy. 

"No:  I  don't  think  he  did;  but 
that  was  only  a  make-believe  trunk." 

t?  Was  it  a  make-believe  elephant 
too?  "  said  Sophie. 

w  I  will  show  you  all  about  it,  the 
next  time  he  comes  to  see  us,"  said 
her  kind  brother. 

The  snow  ceased  falling  before 
noon,  and  patches  of  blue  sky  became 
visible. v 

The  children  watched   it  all  very 


Freddie. 


p.  5*. 


UNCLE  DAVID'S  ELEPHANT.       55 

faithfully;  and,  as  soon  as  permis- 
sion was  given,  they  were  speedily 
equipped,  and  a  merry  time  they  had, 
with  the  coasting  and  snowballing. 

Ferd  took  good  care  that  little  So- 
phie, and  Freddie  too,  should  have 
their  "coast-rides ; "  and  Bob  and  Olive 
and  Susy  took  precious  good  care  of 
themselves,  that  they  should  have  all 
they  could  get  in  every  way.  They 
built  a  snow  man,  who  wasn't  very  tall, 
but  who  had  a  head  that  would  easily 
roll  off;  and  then  they  pelted  it  and 
rolled  it  off,  and  felt  very  valiant. 

Freddie  was  a  "good  shot,"  and 
took  the  head  off,  as  well  as  Bob 
could.  This  vexed  Bob  a  little,  and 
when  Freddie's  turn  came,  he  would 
try  to  put  the  head  on  so  tight  that 
Freddie's  snowball  couldn't  move  it. 

Ferd  saw  the  trick,  and  did  the 
same  for  Bob. 


5  6  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

When  the  self-important  fellow 
found  that  he  could  not  succeed  in 
moving  the  head,  he  suspected  Ferd 
of  doing  what  he  had  done  himself,  and 
said  it  wasn't  fair,  and  that,  if  they 
wouldn't  play  fair,  he  would  go  into 
the  house. 

Freddie  wanted  to  know  what  he 
meant  by  not  playing  fair;  but  Ferd 
would  not  say  any  thing  about  it,  and 
Bob  was  ashamed  to  tell  what  he 
knew,  so  Freddie  was  left  in  blissful 
ignorance  of  any  meanness  connected 
with  the  play.  When  he  went  into 
the  house  soon  after,  and  found  his 
mother,  he  told  her  about  the  fun  in 
such  a  merry  way  —  his  clear  sweet 
eyes  dancing  with  glee,  and  his  rosy 
face  radiant  with  smiles  and  dimples, 
—  that  she  could  not  perceive  that  the 
least  shadow  of  evil  had  crossed  his 
path. 


UNCLE  DAVID'S  ELEPHANT.        57 

K  Did  you  see  any  angels  in  the 
snow,  Freddie?"  said  Uncle  David. 

Freddie  shook  his  head,  while  the 
dimples  played,  and  then  said,  "  No, 
sir;  but  I  felt  some." 

Sweet,  heavenly  influences  were 
evidently  following  Freddie,  and  the 
dear  Jesus  was  entering  into  the  mind 
opened  to  receive  him. 

Most  gently  and  naturally  did  he 
come,  and  Freddie  was  so  young, 
that  the  experience  did  not  seem  new 
or  strange  to  him. 

He  could  not  forget  it,  or  do  any 
thing  to  drive  it  away,  because  he 
loved  it  and  was  happy  under  its  in- 
fluence. 

The  next  morning,  at  family  wor- 
ship, his  mother  repeated  the  passage, 
"Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive;  seek,  and 
ye  shall  find;  knock,  and  it  shall  be 
opened  to  you:  for  every  one  that 


S  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

asketh,  receiveth;  and  he  that  seeketh, 
findeth*  and  to  him  that  knocketh,  it 
shall  be  opened." 

Freddie  looked  up  at  her  with  an 
expression,  in  his  eyes,  which  said,  "I 
know  what  that  means." 

Afterwards  when  she  had  her  work, 
and  he  was  sitting  beside  her,  making 
letters  on  his  slate,  he  said,  "  Mamma, 
I  like  to  talk  to  Jesus,  for  I  think  he  is 
very  good;  and  I  believe  he  is  listening 
all  the  time,  waiting  for  me  to  talk  to 
him,  and  then  he  keeps  giving  me 
something  too,  when  I  want  it." 

tr  What  does  he  give  you  ?  " 

"  Why,  something  that  makes  me 
very  full  and  happy  and  knowing." 

*  What  do  you  ask  him  to  give 
you?" 

"Oh,  I  only  ask  him  to  tell  me 
what  he  knows,  and  he  knows  so 
much!  why,  as  much  as  there  was  in 


UNCLE  DAVID'S  ELEPHANT.        59 

the  deep  water  that  we  saw  last  sum- 
mer, when  we  walked  on  the  sand, 
and  I  picked  up  the  little  white 
stones." 

"  But  he  does  not  give  you  more 
than  a  drop,  at  a  time,  does  he  ?  How 
can  you  tell  how  much  there  is  that 
he  does  not  give  you?  " 

"  Oh !  that  isn't  the  way,  —  not 
drops:  he  touches  me  with  the  whole 
of  it;  and  that's  why  I  like  it,  because 
there  is  so  much  and  it  will  never 
stop." 

"  Don't  you  ever  ask  him  for  candy 
or  playthings?" 

:?  Why,  no:  I  don't  care  to  ask  for 
them.  I  suppose  he  will  give  me 
those  when  he  wants  to;  but  I  want 
him  and  what  he  can  tell  me,  and  that 
seems  something  like  candy,  —  better 
too." 

f  That   makes   me    think   of  what 


60  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

David  says,  in  the  Psalms,  f  How 
sweet  are  thy  words  unto  my  taste,  yea 
sweeter  than  honey  to  my  mouth ! ' : 

"  Why,  did  David  talk  to  Jesus,  and 
did  Jesus  tell  him  things  ?  " 

*  Yes,  indeed;  and  David  wrote 
them  down,  and  they  are  in  the 
Bible." 

"Are  they?  Then  I'll  have  to  learn 
to  read." 

"  And  there  were  a  great  many  oth- 
ers that  were  taught  in  the  same  way, 
and  they  were  taught  a  great  deal, 
because  God  wanted  to  have  them 
write  it  all  down,  so  that  it  might  help 
those  who  were  seeking,  just  as  you 
are." 

"That's  just  like  him:  isn't  he 
good?" 

:<:  Yes.  David  says  too,  '  Oh  give 
thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is 
good.' " 


UNCLE  DAVID'S  ELEPHANT.       6 1 

"I  think  I  should  like  David.  I 
wish  I  could  see  him." 

:?  You  will  find  a  great  many  good 
people,  who,  like  David,  can  tell  you 
of  the  goodness  of  the  Lord." 

"Can  I?  what,  people  that  Jesus 
has  talked  to!  I  am  glad.  Are  there 
many  little  children  that  he  talks 
to?" 

"Oh,  yes!  he  loves  little  children, 
of  all  others.  He  says,  you  know, 
that  ?  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.' ': 

"  I  know :  that's  one  of  Susy's  ver- 
ses. Does  he  talk  to  Susy?" 

"  Susy  has  learned  his  words,  but  I 
do  not  know  whether  she  has  heard 
his  voice  in  her  heart." 

"  I  wonder  if  she  has  ever  harked. 
I  shall  have  to  ask  her.  I  am  glad  I 
harked.  Why  doesn't  every  one 
hark?" 


62 


LITTLE  FREDDIE. 


"  Because  so  many  are  listening  to 
something  else." 

"  Don't  their  souls  starve,  then?  " 

:?Yes;  for  they  do  not  take  the 
bread  which  cometh  down  from 
heaven." 

"  Please,  dear  mamma,  write  r  heav- 
en,' on  my  slate:  I  want  to  learn  how 
to  make  it." 

"  And  then,  when  you  can  make  it, 
you  will  always  know  the  word  when 
you  see  it." 

"Why,  so  I  will,  —  and  write  ?  Da- 
vid '  and  f  Jesus,'  too,  please.  Did 
any  little  children  write  in  the 
Bible?" 

"  You  know  we  have  talked  about 
little  Samuel,  you  remember  the  Lord 
called  him,  and  he  thought  it  was  Eli; 
but  Eli  told  him  it  was  the  Lord,  and 
he  must  say  when  he  called  again, 
f  Speak,  for  thy  servant  heareth.'  And 


UNCLE  DAVID'S  ELEPHANT.       63 

then  when  Samuel  said  that,  the 
Lord  told  him  many  things  to  tell  Eli. 
You  see  the  Lord  was  ready  to  talk 
to  him,  as  soon  as  he  was  ready  to 
listen." 

"  I  am  sure  I  would  listen,  and  I 
would  say,  ?  Please  speak  to  me,  dear 
Jesus,'  if  he  would  only  talk  to  me  so." 

"  He  does  not  come  now  to  speak  to 
the  ear,  but  he  sends  the  Spirit  into  our 
hearts;  and  that  takes  of  the  things  of 
Christ,  and  shows  them  to  us;  and  we 
know  what  he  tells  us,  a  great  deal 
better  than  if  we  only  heard  a  voice 
with  our  ear." 

"Why?"  said  Freddie. 

"  If,"  said  his  mother,  "  some  one 
should  tell  you  that  you  loved  me,  you 
would  not  believe  it,  unless  you  felt  it 
yourself;  and,  if  you  did  feel  it,  you 
would  not  need  to  have  any  one  tell 
you  of  it." 


64  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

"No,  indeed,  I  wouldn't!  Only 
think,  Bob  told  me  the  other  day  that 
I  didn't  like  candy;  but  I  knew  I 
did." 

"  Supposing  he  should  tell  you  that 
there  was  no  Jesus  Christ,  should 
you  believe  him  ?  " 

"  No :  because  I  feel  him,  and  I  love 
him  too;  and  I  don't  want  to  hear  Bob 
say  any  such  things. 

"  There,  I  have  made  f  heaven,'  and 
'  Jesus,'  and  '  David ; '  now  please  show 
me  how  to  write  ?  Love,'  and  then  I 
will  go  and  show  it  to  Susy." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    SLEIGH-RIDE. 

r  I  ""HE  next  morning  was  clear  and 
frosty.  The  meadows  seemed,  in 
the  brilliant  sunlight,  to  be  covered 
with  frosted  silver.  The  trees  sparkled 
with  jewels,  and  the  distant  river 
glowed  like  a  molten  silver  belt.  The 
roads  were  white  and  hard,  marked 
only  by  the  delicate  traces  of  the  light 
sleighs  that  flew  swiftly  by,  with  their 
many  merry  bells. 

As  Freddie's  father  and  mother 
were  wishing  to  return  to  the  city, 
Uncle  David  had  ordered  the  sleigh, 
instead  of  the  carriage,  to  be  ready  as 

5 


66  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

soon  as  breakfast  was  over;  and  Mar- 
tin was  busy  at  the  stable  with  the 
horses,  which  had  not  been  out  for 
several  days,  and  consequently  were 
very  gay  and  frisky  during  their 
morning  toilet.  Sparkle  was  particu- 
larly unmanageable.  He  put  his  ears 
back  and  looked  very  wicked,  when 
Martin  first  went  into  the  stable,  and 
then  tried  to  rush  past  him  and  get 
away,  when  he  was  being  led  out; 
and,  as  soon  as  he  had  cleared  the 
door,  his  heels  were  in  the  air,  and  he 
seemed  on  all  sides  of  Martin  at  once. 
He  pretended  to  be  very  much  fright- 
ened at  every  thing  in  the  yard,  and 
would  snuff  and  snort,  and  then  caper 
about,  so  that  Martin  had  to  take 
good  care  to  keep  away  from  his  heels 
while  harnessing  him.  Lightfoot  was 
more  quiet;  but  both  were  very  glad 
of  a  chance  to  go,  and  went  very 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  6>J 

swiftly  around  the  house  to  the  front 
gate.  Martin  had  excellent  control  of 
them,  however,  and  made  them  stand 
quite  still  while  they  were  waiting. 

When  the  children  heard  that  the 
sleigh  was  to  be  out,  there  was  a  great 
commotion. 

"O  papa!"  said  Olive,  "let  me  go 
too;  please  do." 

"  And  me  wants  to  go  with  us  too," 
said  Sophie. 

"Pshaw!  it  is  too  cold  for  girls 
to  be  out,"  said  Bob:  "they'd  freeze 
their  delicate  noses.  There  is  only 
room  for  one  of  us;  and  father  had 
better  let  me  go." 

"Ah!"  said  Olive,  "you'd  better 
talk  that  way,  Bob.  Didn't  I  hear 
you  telling  mother,  this  morning, 
when  she  asked  you  to  go  to  the  post- 
office,  that  it  was  too  cold,  and  you 
would  freeze  your  ears?  I  suppose 


68  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

boys'  ears  are  more  delicate  than 
girls'  noses." 

"Oh,  well!  I  did  go,  and  didn't 
freeze  my  ears." 

"And  I  shouldn't  freeze  my  nose 
if  I  went  in  the  sleigh,"  retorted 
Olive. 

"  Doesn't  Jack  Frost  make  Olive 
sharp,  though?"  said  Bob. 

"  I  should  think  it  was  you  that 
made  her  sharp,"  said  Ferd.  :?You 
must  not  put  her  on  the  defensive  as 
you  do,  or  she  will  be  too  sharp  for 
comfort." 

"  I  don't  know  why  she  need  to 
defend  herself,"  said  Bob :  "  she  ought 
to  take  what  I  say  and  be  quiet." 

"  Is  that  the  way  you  do  ? "  said 
Ferd. 

"No;  but  then  I  am  a  boy." 

:r  What  difference  does  that  make  ?  " 

Bob  couldn't  tell  exactly,  though  he 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  69 

evidently  thought  that  it  did  make  a 
vast  difference. 

"  Bob,"  said  Freddie,  "  you  may 
go  in  the  sleigh  and  sit  next  to  my 
mamma;  for  I  am  going  to  run  behind 
and  jump  on  to  the  runner,  when  I 
am  tired." 

"And  what  will  you  do  when  }^ou 
are  tired  of  hanging  on?"  said  Bob. 

"  Oh !  I  shall  call  out  to  Martin  to 
stop  and  take  me  up  between  his 
knees,  and  let  me  drive  the  horses." 

"Smart  boy,  that!"  returned  Bob, 
"  and  you  will  be  smarter  if  you  do 
it." 

Freddie  did  feel  very  smart,  and 
really  seemed  to  think  that  he  could 
do  any  thing,  as  he  strutted  along 
on  tiptoe,  backward  and  forward, 
through  the  hall,  taking  steps,  by 
springing,  a  little  longer  than  his  legs 
could  reach. 


7°  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

"  I'll  drive  you  into  town,  in  no 
time  at  all,  —  I  will,"  said  he. 

"Oh,  yes!  no  doubt,  we  shall  get 
there  before  we  start,"  laughed  Bob. 

"  Come,  Freddie,"  called  his  mother, 
from  the  top  of  the  stairs,  "come,  and 
have  on  your  coat:  the  horses  are 
here." 

Freddie  sprang  upstairs,  in  a  furi- 
ous hurry;  for  he  had  a  notion  in 
his  head  that  he  would  have  a  pri- 
vate word  with  Martin,  before  the 
others  were  ready,  about  driving  the 
horses. 

He  put  on  his  cap  and  mittens, 
while  his  mother  buttoned  his  coat, 
and  was  downstairs  in  a  twinkling. 
He  rushed  past  Bob,  who  stood  at  the 
door  and  tried  to  stop  him,  and  out 
to  the  sleigh,  which  Martin  had  just 
driven  in  front  of  the  gate. 

He  had  a  fall  on  the  slippery  pave- 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  7 1 

i 

ment,  but  did  not  mind  that,  nor  Bob's 
derisive  laugh  behind  him.  He  had 
an  object  in  view,  and  meant  to  gain 
it.  He  had  given  up  the  idea  of  run- 
ning behind,  and  thought  only  of 
driving.  "Martin!  Martin!  "  shouted 
he;  "I  want  to  sit  up  there  with  you 
and  drive;  please  let  me,  Martin." 

"Oh!  and  indade,  my  little  mon,  I 
should  be  deloighted,  and  the  horses 
I  am  sure  will  go  very  gintle  wid  ye, 
me  youthful  seraph." 

So  saying,  Martin  jumped  down, 
and  put  up  the  eager  child,  who  had 
forgotten  adieux  and  every  thing  else, 
in  his  intense  desire. 

There  were  some  questionings  when 
his  father  and  mother  came  out;  but 
his  mother  felt  willing  to  let  him  try 
it,  as  she  knew  Martin  would  take 
good  care  of  him. 

Bob  was  allowed  to  go  too,  but  he 


72  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

* 

felt  a  little  discomfited  at  Freddie's 
success. 

The  eager  horses  started  off'  in  a 
rapid  trot,  and  the  light  sleigh  glided 
along  so  easily  behind  them,  that  they 
required  strength  and  steadiness  to 
keep  them  from  running  away. 

Martin  let  Freddie  hold  the  reins 
behind  his  strong  hands;  but  this  did 
not  quite  satisfy  him.  So,  when  the 
horses  had  worked  off  some  of  their 
steam,  Martin  would  let  go  for  a  little, 
so  that  Freddie  could  feel  the  pull 
and  drive  all  himself. 

The  horses  knew  the  change  as 
soon  as  Freddie  did,  and  took  advan- 
tage of  it  too,  by  increasing  their 
speed.  This  amused  Freddie  so  much 
that  Martin  permitted  it,  as  far  as  he 
dared. 

It  happened,  however,  that  once 
just  as  Martin  let  go,  a  mischievous 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  73 

boy,  who  was  passing,  threw  a  snow- 
ball at  Sparkle.  He  was  evidently 
very  glad  of  an  excuse  for  cutting  up  a 
few  capers,  and  immediately  bounded 
forward  in  a  succession  of  leaps,  in 
which  Lightfoot  gladly  joined  him. 
Martin  had  seized  the  reins  instantly, 
and  endeavored,  with  all  his  skill  and 
strength,  to  get  control  of  the  wild 
runaways.  He  soon  had  them  in 
hand,  when  something  loosened  in  the 
harness,  and  touched  Sparkle's  legs. 
This  rendered  him  unmanageable, 
and  both  horses  started  into  a  full  run. 
Now  there  was  real  danger. 

"  Freddie,"  shouted  his  father,  "  sit 
down  on  the  floor  and  hold  on  to 
Martin's  leg,  until  I  can  get  at  you." 

Freddie  did  exactly  as  he  wras  told, 
instantly  sliding  down  from  between 
Martin's  knees,  thus  leaving  him  free 
to  manage  the  horses. 


74  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

He  was  entangled  in  the  buffalo 
robe,  and  somewhat  frightened ;  but  he 
sat  quietly  on  the  floor,  holding  on 
as  he  was  directed,  while  his  father 
sprang  for  the  driver's  seat. 

Freddie  was  soon  safe  in  his  fa- 
ther's lap,  while  Martin  endeavored, 
once  more,  to  control  the  excited 
horses. 

"  Wkoa,  Sparkle!  "  said  he,  steadily 
and  calmly.  :?  Whoa,  Light  foot!" 
This  he  kept  repeating  in  steady, 
commanding  tones. 

Sparkle's  ears  soon  showed  atten- 
tion to  the  voice,  and  his  bounds 
became  less  violent.  He  yielded  obe- 
dience at  length  to  the  guidance  of  the 
rein,  and  finally  came  to  a  full  stop. 

What  a  relief  it  was  to  them  all,  to 
know  that  the  danger  was  over;  for 
they  had  held  their  breath,  in  fear  of 
being  dashed  to  pieces. 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  75 

Martin  received  the  praise  due  to 
him,  for  his  ready  skill  and  coolness; 
and  the  travellers,  being  now  not  far 
from  home,  left  him  to  care  for  the 
broken  harness,  and  walked  on,  quite 
satisfied  to  be  safe  on  their  feet  again. 

"  Well,"  said  Bob, "  that's  what  you 
call  driving  in  no  time:  isn't  it,  Fred- 
die?" 

:?  We  will  never  let  Freddie  drive 
again:  will  we,  father?"  said  Susy. 

"  I  wasn't  driving,"  said  Freddie; 
"  the  horses  wouldn't  let  me." 

"Ha,  ha!"  shouted  Bob:  "that's  a 
joke." 

"  Freddie  saved  us  from  a  bad  acci- 
dent, probably,"  said  his  father,  "  by 
his  quick  obedience,  for  every  thing 
depended  upon  Martin,  when  I  told 
Freddie  to  sit  on  the  floor;  and,  if 
there  had  been  the  least  confusion  or 
trouble  just  then,  I  do  not  think  Mar- 


7  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

tin  could  have  gained  control  as  he 
did." 

:r  Yes,"  said  Susy,  "if  you  had  been 
up  there,  Bob,  you  would  have  said, 
*  What  shall  I  sit  on  the  floor  fo'r?  I 
don't  want  to  sit  on  the  floor.' ': 

This  was  a  home-thrust  plainly, 
and  Bob  looked  sullen  without  reply- 
ing; for  he  knew  that  it  was  exactly 
what  he  should  have  said,  and  he  was 
nettled,  to  feel  that  Freddie  was  again 
ahead  of  him. 

"  Sparkle  minded  too,"  said  Freddie, 
"  what  Martin  told  him.  I  think  he 
is  a  splendid  horse.  He  didn't  want 
to  stop,  I  know;  he  liked  to  jump  all 
about." 

:rYes,  he  has  confidence  in  Mar- 
tin," said  Uncle  David,  "  and  has  the 
habit  of  obeying  his  voice.  Martin 
trains  him  in  that  way.  It  was  fortu- 
nate for  us  to-day,  that  he  was  so 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  77 

trained,  for  the  reins  and  bit  seemed 
powerless  for  a  few  minutes." 

:?Yes:  Freddie  and  Sparkle  are 
both  trained  to  obedience;  and  they 
have  confidence  in  their  teachers,  and 
mind  without  knowing  why;  and  that 
gives  their  teachers  confidence  in 
them.  I  would  trust  Freddie  and 
Sparkle  after  this,  more  than  ever 
before." 

Freddie  felt  very  happy  in  his  fa- 
ther's approval,  but  happier  in  think- 
ing that  the  dear  Jesus  knew  all  about 
it  too;  for  he  felt  as  if  he  had  made 
him  do  it,  and  thus  kept  them  all 
from  harm. 

When  they  reached  home,  they 
found  Aunt  Mary  glad  to  welcome 
them;  but  looking  surprised  at  their 
mode  of  coming.  Her  face  went 
through  all  sorts  of  changing  expres- 
sions, while  they  related  the  incidents 


78  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

of  the  way;  but  finally  settled  into 
one  of  satisfied  thankfulness,  that  no 
harm  had  come  near  them  in  their 
peril. 

When  Bob  went  home  in  the  sleigh 
in  the  afternoon,  with  his  father,  he 
teased  very  hard  to  sit  with  Martin 
and  drive;  but  Martin  said  that  he 
could  manage  Sparkle  and  Lightfoot, 
but  he  was  not  sure  about  Bob.  So 
he  sat  by  his  father,  thinking  why  it 
was  that  Freddie  beat  him  every- 
where. 

Freddie  had  a  very  spirited  story 
to  tell  Ria  that  night,  up  in  the  nur- 
sery. 

"  Only  think,"  said  he,  I  took  the 
reins  all  myself,  and  the  horses  went 
so  fast,  that  the  sleigh  went  right  along 
in  the  air,  and  did  not  touch  the 
ground  at  all;  and  the  houses  moved 
right  away  from  us,  and  the  people 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  79 

stared  at  us,  but  we  did  not  stop  to 
look  at  them,  I  tell  you.  One  boy 
took  off  his  hat  and  shouted, f  hurrah! ' 
to  us;  but,  dear  me!  we  didn't  mind 
that:  we  had  all  we  could  do  to  go. 
Sparkle  and  Lightfoot  held  up  their 
heads,  taller  than  ever  you  saw;  and 
their  ears  were  just  as  straight  as  two 
sticks;  and  they  jumped  and  jumped, 
till  Martin  told  them  to  whoa" 

:?  Why,   wasn't   you    frightened?" 
said  Ria. 

"Frightened  of  what?  No:  I  liked 
it;  only  I  didn't  like  to  get  down  on 
the  floor,  when  papa  told  me  to." 

"  What  made  you  do  it  then  ?  " 

"Because  he  told  me  to:  that's 
reason  enough." 

"  But  did  you  know  what  he  wanted 
you  to  do  it  for  ?  " 

"Oh,  no!  I  only  minded:  that's 
all.  But  I  was  glad  I  did,  for  he  said 


8o 


LITTLE  FREDDIE. 


he  was  glad  afterwards;  and  I  shall 
always  mind  him,  for  he  knows." 

?  You  are  a  very  good  boy,  I  am 
sure,"  said  Ria. 

"  Oh!  that  isn't  much.  I  can't  help 
minding:  there  is  something  in  me 
that  makes  me." 

"Is  there?  what  is  it?" 

"Oh!  I  think  it  is  Jesus.  I  have 
found  him  out,  Ria;  and  he  is  right 
close  to  me,  all  the  time." 

"  Does  he  tell  you  to  mind?  " 

"No;  but  he  makes  me  want  to. 
He  does  every  thing  for  me,  and  he  is 
just  as  good  as  he  can  be.  You  had 
better  listen  in  your  heart,  Ria,  and 
see  if  you  can't  hear  him.'' 

"I  wish  I  could:  I  should  like  to 
know  how  it  feels." 

"  Oh !  that's  no  reason,  I  don't  think 
you'll  hear  him  that  way:  you  must 
want  him" 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  l 

"Must  I?  Well,  I  wish  I  could 
want  him,  then." 

"  If  you  had  him  once,  you  would- 
n't want  any  thing  else." 

"  Why,  yes,  I  should.  I  am  sure 
I  should  want  food  and  clothes  just 
the  same." 

"  Oh!  but  he  would  give  you  every 
thing  without  your  wanting,  if  you 
only  had  him:  I  know  he  would. 
There's  mamma  coming  upstairs  with 
Susy.  Now,  you  ask  her,  and  see  if 
she  don't  say  so  too." 

:r  You  ask  her,  Freddie :  I  am  afraid 
to." 

"Afraid!  why?  But  I'll  ask  her." 
"  Mamma,  I  told  Ria  that  if  she 
wanted  Jesus  and  had  him,  he  would 
give  her  every  thing.  I  know  he 
would :  mamma,  don't  you  ?  She  says 
she  should  want  food  and  clothes 
too." 


82  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

"  Certainly  she  would.  I  will  tell 
you  what  Jesus  says  about  it  himself." 

"  Take  no  thought  for  your  life, 
what  ye  shall  eat  or  what  ye  shall 
drink,  nor  yet  for  your  body,  what  ye 
shall  put  on.  Is  not  the  life  more 
than  meat,  and  the  body  than  rai- 
ment?" 

"  Let  me  say  the  rest  of  that,  mam- 
ma," said  Susy:  "I  said  it  all  perfect 
to  Aunt  Kate  one  morning." 

:?Yes:  you  may  say  all  you  can 
remember  about  it." 

' c  Behold  the  fowls  of  the  air.  for 
they  sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap, 
nor  gather  into  barns;  yet  your  heav- 
enly Father  feedeth  them.  Are  ye 
not  much  better  than  they? 

?  Which  of  you  by  taking  thought 
can  add  one  cubit  unto  his  stature  ? 

:  f  And  why  take  ye  thought  for 
raiment.  Consider  the  lilies  of  the 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  83 

field   how  they  grow;  they  toil  not, 
neither  do  the)7  spin. 

''And  yet  I  say  unto  you,  That 
even  Solomon,  in  all  his  glory,  was 
not  arrayed  like  one  of  these. 

'  Wherefore,  if  God  so  clothe 
the  grass  of  the  field,  which  to-day  is, 
and  to-morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven, 
shall  he  not  much  more  clothe  you, 
O  ye  of  little  faith  ? 

?  Therefore  take  no  thought,  say- 
ing What  shall  we  eat?  or  What  shall 
we  drink?  or,  Wherewithal  shall  we 
be  clothed? 

c  (For  after  all  these  things  do  the 
Gentiles  seek;  )  for  your  heavenly  Fa- 
ther knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of 
all  these  things. 

r  But  seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of 

God,  and    his   righteousness,  and  all 

these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you.' ': 

:f  You  may  stop  there,  Susy.    Now, 


84  LITTLE  FREDDIE, 

don't  you  see,  Ria,  God  is  ready  to 
care  for  us,  if  we  seek  \nmjirst;  but, 
if  we  seek  ourselves  first,  we  do  not 
find  God,  and  we  cannot  take  care  of 
ourselves." 

"  But,  if  I  should  seek  God  first, 
shouldn't  I  have  to  eat,  and  dress  my- 
self?" 

:t  Yes :  he  would  lead  you  to  do  it, 
and  in  a  better  way  than  you  can  lead 
yourself." 

Freddie  was  undressed  now,  and, 
after  kneeling  beside  his  mother  and 
murmuring  his  evening  petition,  he 
kissed  her,  and  clambered  into  his 
little  bed.  He  had  listened  to  what 
Susy  repeated;  and,  when  she  had 
finished,  he  wanted  to  know  where 
she  got  all  that. 

:?  Why,  in  the  Bible,  of  course," 
said  Susy.  "  It  is  in  the  sixth  chap- 
ter of  Matthew." 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  8$ 

Freddie  had  not  understood  every 
word,  but  he  had  a  general  idea  about 
it,  that  he  had  known  it  all  before.  He 
soon  fell  asleep,  while  his  mother  and 
Ria  were  talking. 

"  Freddie  seems  to  know  how  to 
find  God,"  said  Ria;  "  but  I  don't." 

"  That  is  because  he  wanted  to  find 
him  more  than  any  thing  else.  If  you 
seek,  you  will  find,  but  you  need  God's 
help  in  seeking." 

"  Then,  I  suppose,  he  will  give  it  to 
me  when  he  is  ready:  I  shall  have 
to  wait  until  then." 

"  If  you  wait,  he  will  not  give  it  to 
you;  he  tells  you  to  seek,  but  you 
must  seek  depending  on  his  help. 
You  are  ignorant,  and  must  let  him 
teach  you.  You  are  in  the  dark,  and 
must  let  him  give  you  light.  You  are 
wrong,  and  must  let  him  make  you 
right.  But  you  must  want  to  have 
him  do  all  this." 


86  LITTLE   FREDDIE. 

"I  don't  see  how  such  a  little  child  as 
Freddie,  who  doesn't  even  know  how 
to  read,  can  know  so  much  about  it." 

"  It  is  because  he  is  a  little  child, 
and  has  the  true  spirit  of  a  child.  He 
doesn't  know  any  other  way  but  a 
child's  way  to  do  any  thing,  and  that  is 
the  right  way  to  go  to  the  Saviour." 

"  But  I  always  thought  little  chil- 
dren didn't  know  enough  to  become 
Christians." 

:?  That  is  a  great  mistake,  for  the 
Saviour  himself  says,  r  Siiffer  little 
children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid 
them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.'  He  not  only  thinks  them 
the  right  ones  to  come,  but  says  that 
those  only  who  are  like  them,  will 
come  into  the  kingdom.  r  Whoever 
therefore,  shall  humble  himself  as  this 
little  child,  the  same  is  greatest  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.' " 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  87 

"  Mamma,"  said  Susy,  "I  think  I 
am  a  Christian." 

"Do  you,  darling?  why?  " 

"  Because  I  learn  so  much  of  the 
Bible.  Didn't  I  say  it  perfect  just 
now  ?  Then  I  say  my  prayers  every 
night  and  morning  5  and  I  am  sure 
you  ought  to  think  I  am  a  Christian." 

"  But  learning  verses  and  saying 
prayers  wouldn't  make  you  a  Chris- 
tian would  it?" 

Susy  looked  a  little  puzzled,  but 
still  felt  sure  that  there  must  be  some 
merit  in  what  she  did. 

"  Why,  mamma,"  said  she,  "  don't 
you  think  I  am  a  better  girl,  than  if 
I  hadn't  learned  the  verses  so  per- 
fectly?" 

:?  That  depends  upon  what  you 
learned  them  for.  Can  you  remem- 
ber why  you  wanted  to  learn  them?" 

Susy  thought  a  moment  and  then 


88  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

said,  looking  a  little  ashamed,  w  I 
was  afraid  that  Olive  would  learn 
more  verses  than  I  did,  so  I  tried  very 
hard;  and  Aunt  Kate  said  I  was  a 
very  good  girl,  and  I  thought  I  was." 

:?  What  do  you  think  about  it  now, 
when  you  consider  the  motive  that 
led  you  to  try  so  hard?  wasn't  it 
rather  selfish?" 

:?  Yes,  perhaps  it  was." 

"  Do  you  think  it  made  it  any  bet- 
ter, because  Aunt  Kate  thought  you 
were  so  very  good  ?  " 

"No:  I  suppose  not,  but  she  didn't 
know  why  I  learned  so  many." 

"Oh,  no!  she  could  not  see  into 
your  heart,  and  therefore  could  not 
judge  truly  whether  your  action  was 
right  or  not.  Now  if  you  had  learned 
the  words  of  the  Saviour  because  you 
wanted  to  have  them  feed  your  soul, 
or  the  soul  of  any  one  who  might 


THE   SLEIGH-RIDE.  89 

hear  you  say  them,  don't  you  see  that 
it  would  have  been  a  very  different 
action,  in  your  own  sight  and  in  the 
sight  of  God?" 

"  It  would  have  been  good  then." 
"  It  would  have  been  right.  I  am 
afraid  you  think  too  much  of  good 
actions.  Our  goodness  is  not  much 
in  what  we  do,  for  God  looks  into  the 
heart.  You  must  look  at  yourself  in 
that  way:  then  you  will  know  what 
God  thinks  of  you.  Now  kneel,  dear, 
and  say  your  evening  prayer  before  I 
leave  you;  and  pray  God  to  teach  you 
about  yourself,  so  that  you  may  judge 
rightly,  and  may  always  seek  to  do  his 
will." 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    GREAT    PICTURE. 

morning,  while  the  family 
were  at  breakfast,  a  note  was 
handed  in  to  Mrs.  Percy  from  Dr. 
Corning,  who  lived  but  a  short  dis- 
tance from  them.  It  contained  an 
invitation  for  Freddie,  to  go  with  him 
to  see  Bierstadt's  great  painting  of  a 
"  Storm  in  the  Rocky  Mountains." 

Dr.  Corning  was  an  elderly  gentle- 
man, who  had  been,  for  many  years, 
a  successful  physician  in  the  city,  but 
had  now  retired  from  practice,  and 
was  living  very  quietly  with  a  wid- 
owed daughter. 

He  had  a  kind  face  and  a  loving 


THE   GREAT  PICTURE.  pi 

heart.  He  loved  children  especially, 
and  constantly  sought  their  society. 
They  always  liked  to  be  with  him, 
and  hear  his  talk.  He  had  a  library 
which  contained  numerous  entertain- 
ing books  and  pictures,  suited  to  the 
young  people;  and  he  knew  well  how 
to  use  them  for  the  profit,  as  well  as 
pleasure,  of  his  youthful  visitors. 

He  was  particularly  fond  of  Freddie, 
and  often  called  to  take  him  to  walk 
or  to  ride;  for  he  liked  to  hear  his 
wise  remarks.  Being  a  lover  of  na- 
ture and  the  fine  arts,  he  would  take 
Freddie  to  see  flowers,  pictures,  stat- 
uary, and  other  beautiful  things,  as  he 
had  opportunity. 

At  these  times,  he  took  pains  to 
point  out  to  him  the  most  beautiful 
parts  and  exquisite  touches;  thus 
training  the  little,  thoughtful,  observ- 
ant boy  to  correct  judgments  in  these 


9  2  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

things  and  filling  his  mind  with  beau- 
tiful images,  among  which  his  imagi- 
nation could  revel,  to  some  purpose. 

Freddie  enjoyed  seeing  these  beau- 
tiful things;  but  still  more  the  inter- 
esting talk  of  the  doctor,  for  he  told 
him  so  much  that  was  new  to  him. 

He  was  ready,  waiting  and  watch- 
ing, when  the  doctor  came  for  him; 
and  talked  very  fast  while  they  were 
on  their  way  to  the  hall.  This  hall 
was  a  long  narrow  room,  the  sides  of 
which  were  darkened  by  draperies. 
The  picture  was  at  one  end,  and  the 
light  was  let  in  upon  it  from  above. 

When  Freddie  entered  the  room 
and  walked  towards  the  picture,  hold- 
ing tight  to  Dr.  Coming's  hand,  his 

o         o  o  ,     * 

attention  was  immediately  arrested  by 
the  clouds,  which  seemed  so  real  as 
almost  to  alarm  him. 

He  was  so  intent    in    his    gazing, 


THE    GREAT  PICTURE.  93 

that  he  was  hardly  conscious  that  his 
friend  had  lifted  him  to  a  seat,  and 
was  watching  him  as  intently  as  he 
was  watching  the  picture. 

The  clouds  seemed  rolling  over 
and  over,  rapidly  driven  by  the  wind, 
and  growing  blacker  and  more  threat- 
ening on  one  side;  while  on  the 
other  the  sunlight  was  still  strug- 
gling through,  and  lighting  up  the 
swelling  masses. 

Just  here  in  the  light  was  an  eagle, 
sailing  majestically  amidst  the  tumult. 
This  eagle  fixed  Freddie's  gaze. 

:?  What  do  you  see,  my  little  man  ?  " 
the  doctor  said  presently. 

"  Why,  I  am  afraid  the  clouds  will 
kill  that  bird." 

:t  That  is  an  eagle.  He  can  fly 
through  the  clouds  and  find  the  sun, 
if  he  likes.  Storms  do  not  frighten 
him." 


94  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

Freddie  continued  to  look  in  silence 
for  some  minutes. 

"How  do  you  like  the  picture?" 
the  doctor  at  length  said. 

"What  picture?" 

c  Why,  the  picture  of  the  clouds 
and  the  eagle  ;"  for  Freddie's  at- 
tention seemed  entirely  fixed  on 
them. 

:?  That  isn't  a  picture;  that's  only 
out-doors.  Will  it  thunder?" 

The  doctor  laughed  as  if  he  was 
amused,  not  at  all  as  if  he  wished  to 
make  sport  of  Freddie  on  account  of 
his  mistake. 

Freddie  was  deceived.  It  was, 
partly,  on  account  of  the  size  of  the 
picture,  as  he  had  never  seen  one  be- 
fore so  large;  and,  partly,  because  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  watching  clouds, 
and  enjoying  them,  even  when  there 
was  lightning  and  thunder. 


THE    GREAT  PICTURE.  95 

His  mother  had  often  called  him 
to  see  a  black,  stormy  cloud  that  the 
wind  was  blowing  up,  and  taught  him 
to  admire  it.  These  clouds  in  the 
picture  seemed  so  real  to  him  that  it 
was  difficult  for  him  to  believe,  even 
when  he  was  told,  that  they  were  only 
painted.  He  looked  very  wise,  when 
the  doctor  told  him  of  his  mistake, 
and  said  he  was  sure,  though,  that 
those  clouds  would  thunder. 

"  Do  you  see  that  white  peak  above 
the  clouds?"  said  the  doctor. 

"  Why,  isn't  that  a  cloud  too?  " 

"No:  that  is  the  top  of  Mt.  Rosalie. 
The  bottom  or  the  base  of  it  is  far 
down  in  the  valley.  Do  you  see  that 
stream  of  water  and  the  island,  where 
the  sun  is  shining?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir!  I  see  houses  there: 
isn't  it  pretty  ?  " 

:?  Yes:  that  is  the  valley.    The  base 


96  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

of  the  mountain  is  there.  Now  look 
up  to  the  top  again  above  the  clouds." 

:?  Why,  does  it  go  all  the  way  up 
behind  the  clouds?  " 

:?Yes,  thousands  of  feet.  And  these 
cliffs,  at  the  sides  of  the  picture,  are 
mountains  cut  in  two." 

"What  could  cut  them,  sir?" 

"  The  water,  probably.  It  collects 
and  forms  streams  and  rivers,  which 
burst  their  way  out,  and  wear  their 
channels  down  until  the  mountain  is 
divided." 

"I  never  saw  a  mountain  before: 
where  did  these  come  from?" 

"  Mr.  Bierstadt  painted  these  from 
what  he  saw  in  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
which  are  in  the  western  part  of  the 
United  States,  not  very  far  from  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  I  will  show  you, 
on  the  map,  where  they  are,  some 
time." 


THE    GREAT  PICTURE.  97 

When  they  were  walking  home, 
Freddie  was  rather  silent  and  thought- 
ful; so  much  so,  that  the  doctor 
noticed  it,  and  asked  him  what  he  was 
thinking  about. 

"Why,  about  that  great  mountain, 
sir :  it  makes  me  afraid  to  think  about 
it." 

!C  There  are  hundreds  of  mountains, 
larger  and  higher  than  that,  in  the 
world.  They  rise  above  the  clouds, 
where  it  is  so  cold  that  their  tops  are 
covered  with  snow  that  never  melts. 
In  some  places,  they  are  ranged  along 
for  thousands  of  miles.  There  are 
fearful  storms  in  them,  and  great 
winds,  that  roar  and  howl,  tearing 
through  the  valleys  and  around  the 
mountain  sides." 

"I  should  think  God  would  be 
afraid  of  them  himself,"  said  Fred- 
die. 

7 


9»  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

"  He  holds  them,  as  I  could  a  peb- 
ble in  my  hand,"  said  the  doctor. 

"  It  makes  me  afraid  of  God,  when 
I  think  he  is  so  big  and  strong." 

"  But  when  the  wind  is  still,"  con- 
tinued the  doctor,  "and  the  storm  is 
gone,  and  the  sun  shines,  not  only  on 
the  snowy  tops,  but  down  the  moun- 
tain sides  and  all  along  the  valleys  and 
streams,  —  then  these  great  moun- 
tain ranges  are  rilled  with  beauty  and 
loveliness,  such  as  can  be  found  no- 
where else.  You  would  not  be  afraid 
of  them  then. 

"  It  is  true,  God  is  very  great  j  for 
he  not  only  made  the  mountains  and 
manages  the  storms,  but  he  made  the 
great  world  and  every  thing  in  it,  and 
takes  care  of  it  all.  He  has  made, 
too,  a  great  many  other  worlds,  —  so 
many  that  we  cannot  count  them. 
Yet  he  will  come  and  listen  to  a  little 


THE   GREAT  PICTURE.  99 

child  like  you,  and  talk  very  sweetly 
and  affectionately  to  you,  when  you 
listen  to  him." 

"  Oh,  yes !  I  know  that.  Jesus  talks 
to  me,  and  I  know  he  is  big,  like  the 
ocean;  but  I  never  thought  of  being 
afraid  of  him.  I  like  Jesus,  but  God 
seems  too  far  off." 

"Yes;  and  that  is  the  reason  Jesus 
came  into  the  world  and  became  a 
man,  so  as  to  bring  God  near  to  us, 
that  he  might  forgive  us  and  draw  us 
back  to  him." 

:?  Well,  I  wish  that  Jesus  was  God;  I 
don't  want  to  think  of  any  other  God." 

"And  you  need  not,  for  he  is  God; 
if  not,  he  could  be  but  little  to  you  or 
any  one  else." 

"  I  think  he  is  the  part  of  God  that 
is  next  to  me." 

:?  Yes:  God  was  so  far  off  from  us, 
that  Jesus  came;  like  the  sunshine, 


100  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

bringing  light  and  life,  and  showing 
us  the  goodness  of  God,  which  but 
for  this  light,  we  could  never  have 
known.  Then  the  Spirit  comes,  like 
the  wind,  —  which  we  can  feel,  but 
cannot  see,  —  and  moves  upon  our 
hearts,  and  opens  them  to  the  light  and 
life  which  feeds  and  saves  them." 

"What  is  the  Spirit,  sir?  Did  you 
ever  feel  it  ?  " 

:?  Yes;  and  so  have  you,  if  Jesus 
talks  to  you;  for  he  does  that  by  the 
Spirit.  When  Jesus  went  to  heaven, 
he  sent  the  Spirit  to  stay  with  those 
who  love  him,  and  he  is  as  much  God 
as  Jesus  is." 

While  Freddie  and  the  doctor  were 
walking  and  talking  in  this  way,  they 
met  Mrs.  Percy. 

"  O  mamma!  "  said  Freddie,  w  such 
clouds  as  I  saw  in  the  picture!  They 
were  very  magnifical" 


THE   GREAT  PICTURE.  IOI 

"Ah!  Freddie  has  to  make  a  word 
to  express  his  admiration,"  said  the 
doctor. 

"I  did  not  make  that  word,  sir;  I 
heard  papa  read  it  in  the  Bible." 

Mrs.  Percy  read  more  in  her  child's 
face  than  he  could  express. 

"  I  can  see,"  said  she,  "  that  you 
have  had  a  feast." 

"  I  did  not  know  as  I  should  get  him 
away  from  it,  "  said  the  doctor;  "  and  I 
don't  think  I  have,  for  he  has  brought 
it  away  with  him  in  his  memory.  I 
shall  take  him  home  with  me  for  a 
little  while,  with  your  leave.  We 
are  going  to  find  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains." 

"  Certainly,  he  shall  go,"  said  his 
mamma:  "I  will  send  Ria  in  for  him 
when  I  come  back." 

The  doctor  had  a  very  large  book 
in  his  library,  full  of  fine  maps  of 


102  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

all  the  countries  and  places  in  the 
world. 

They  spent  a  very  pleasant  half- 
hour,  in  finding  not  only  the  Rocky 
Mountain  range,  but  other  ranges 
and  high  mountains,  in  different  parts 
of  the  world. 

Freddie  gained  some  new  ideas,  in 
this  way,  about  the  world  and  what 
it  contains;  and  he  could  not  help 
feeling  how  very  small  he  was  amidst 
all  this  greatness. 

"  I  do  wonder,"  said  he,  "  how 
Jesus  ever  found  me  out  :  I  am  so 
little." 

"  Ah !  "  said  the  doctor,  "  that  shows 
how  great  he  is.  Nothing  is  too  large 
or  too  small  for  his  knowledge.  If 
we  love  him,  we  are  a  part  of  him; 
and  he  shows  himself  to  us,  and  we 
gradually  come  to  have  some  of  his 
greatness  and  goodness. 


THE   GREAT  PICTURE.  103 

"The  dear  little  ones  that,  in  their 
ignorance  and  weakness,  love  and 
trust  him,  are  sure  of  his  watch  and 
care.  Such,  he  says  himself,  are  the 
greatest  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

"Do  you  suppose  he  thinks  I  am 
great? "asked  Freddie. 

*  Yes:  the  smaller  you  seem  to 
yourself  and  the  most  unworthy  his 
notice,  the  greater  and  more  impor- 
tant you  are  to  him,  and  then  you  be- 
come great  and  good  through  him." 

"  Then  I  think  I  won't  be  afraid, 
because  I  am  little,  any  more." 

"  There  is  a  voice  asking  for  you," 
said  the  doctor.  "  So,  my  little  great 
one,  good-by." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   PLATE   OF   CANDY. 

PHE  winter  passed  rapidly  away 
at  the  Percys',  for  they  were  a 
happy  family.  Love  was  the  rule  of 
their  lives,  and  played  like  the  sun- 
shine around  them.  A  home,  such 
as  theirs,  was  indeed  a  heaven  upon 
earth. 

Freddie,  with  love  in  his  heart  and 
love  all  about  him,  grew  very  rapidly 
in  the  knowledge  which  is  too  often 
shut  out  from  little  children's  experi- 
ences by  the  mistakes  and  unbelief  of 
those  around  them. 

The  selfishness  of  his  natural  heart 
would  strive  occasionally  for  mastery  j 


THE  PLATE    OF  CANDY.  105 

but  he  had  learned  so  early  that  love 
was  better,  that  these  struggles  were 
short,  and  had  less  and  less  power 
over  him. 

After  the  snow  was  gone,  and  the 
frost  was  beginning  to  break  up  the 
ground  in  the  country,  so  that  Bob 
and  Olive  could  not  enjoy  their  out- 
door sports,  Mrs.  Percy  sent  for  them 
to  make  a  visit  in  the  city.  Freddie 
and  Susy  were  delighted  to  have  their 
cousins  with  them,  and  merry  times 
they  had  with  their  various  sports. 
Bob,  although  three  years  older  than 
Freddie,  had  learned  to  respect  him; 
for  he  felt  his  superiority.  Still  he 
had  a  lurking  jealousy,  which  mani- 
fested itself  occasionally,  in  some  un- 
kind remark  or  sly  trick,  which  were 
very  provoking.  These  sometimes 
Freddie  did  not  notice  at  all,  for  he 
was  above  them;  and  his  kind  and 


IO6  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

noble  feelings  would  often  shame 
Bob  into  good  nature.  But,  occa- 
sionally, he  would  be  so  stung  with 
the  injustice  of  the  treatment,  that  he 
would  go  away  and  hide  himself,  and 
cry  as  if  his  heart  would  break. 

Bob  took  very  good  care  to  be  par- 
ticularly kind  and  noble  before  his 
aunt,  so  that  she  did  not  discover  the 
trouble  until  she  noticed  one  day  that 
Freddie  had  been  crying.  He  had 
come  up  into  her  room,  and  taken  a 
seat  he  often  occupied  by  her  side 
while  she  was  reading  or  sewing. 
His  silence  attracted  her  attention, 
and  then  she  saw  the  trouble  in  his 
face. 

"Why,  my  darling,  what  is  the 
matter?"  said  she. 

"Bob  hates  me,  I  think,"  said  he; 
"and  it  makes  my  side  ache  and 
makes  me  cry." 


THE  PLATE    OF  CANDY.  K>7 

"What  makes  you  think  so?  "  said 
she,  taking  him  into  her  lap,  and 
placing  her  soothing  hand  on  his 
brow. 

"Oh,  he  plagues  me  so!"  sobbed 
Freddie:  "  I  don't  know  why  either. 
He  kept  doing  it  and  doing  it,  and  I 
did  not  think  about  it  much  at  first; 
but  it  hurts  me  now,  and  I  had  rather 
stay  with  you,  mamma.  I  don't  want 
to  play  with  him." 

The  fountains  of  Freddie's  grief 
were  fairly  opened  now,  and  he 
sobbed  violently  in  his  mother's  arms. 

She  did  not  say  any  thing  for  a  few 
minutes,  but  tried  to  soothe  him  with 
soft  kisses  and  gentle  words  of  love. 
She  knew  his  ardent  temperament, 
and  that  smiles  would  soon  follow  the 
sobs. 

She  told  him  a  funny  story  of  a  lit- 
tle boy  who  made  believe  cry,  and, 


108  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

when  his  mamma  and  brothers  and 
sisters  all  came  around  him  to  see 
what  was  the  matter,  he  took  his 
hands  down  from  his  face  and  laughed 
very  merrily  at  them  all. 

This  had  the  desired  effect  to  divert 
Freddie's  mind,  and  he  soon  returned 
to  his  usual  state  of  happiness.  Grief 
was  an  unusual  visitor  to  him,  and 
could  not  stay  long. 

When  he  was  really  quieted  and 
rested,  his  mother  said  to  him,  — 

"I  have  a  box  of  candy  that  I 
brought  home  last  night.  How 
should  you  like  to  carry  some  of  it 
down  in  this  pretty  blue  plate,  and 
offer  some  to  Bob,  with  one  of  your 
sweetest  smiles?" 

rr  What  for,  mamma  ?  " 

"  So  as  to  remind  him  of  his  un- 
kindness,  and  make  him  repent  and 
ask  your  forgiveness." 


THE  PLATE    OF  CANDY.  109 

Freddie  looked  thoughtful  at  this, 
but  did  not  say  any  thing  for  a  few 
moments.  His  mother  could  see  that 
there  was  a  struggle;  for  he  was  so 
stung  that  the  idea  of  self-defence,  if 
not  of  resentment,  seemed  ready  to 
gain  the  victory. 

"  I  don't  think  I  want  to  see  Bob  at 
all,"  said  he. 

"  What,  not  if  you  could  make  him 
love  you ! " 

"But  I  think  he  ought  to  bring  me 
candy  first." 

"  I  don't  think  he  would  do  that." 

:?  Then  I  don't  want  to  see  him,"  and 
Freddie  began  to  look  grieved  again. 

"  But  you  would  like  to  have  him 
repent  if  he  has  wronged  you,  and 
you  would  like  to  forgive  him  and 
make  him  love  you.  If  you  could  do 
this  by  carrying  him  the  candy,  it  is 
worth  a  little  effort:  is  it  not?  " 


HO  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

Freddie  could  not  see  it  clearly: 
the  sense  of  injustice  was  so  strong. 

"  Couldn't  you,  mamma,  go  and  tell 
him  to  come  up  here  and  repent  to 
me?" 

"That  might  make  him  angry,  be- 
cause then  he  would  think  that  you 
had  been  telling  me  about  it.  You 
had  better  settle  it  between  your- 
selves." 

"  But  he'd  just  think  I  was  afraid 
of  him,  if  I  give  him  candy  to  eat." 

"  Then  tell  him  what  you  give  it  to 
him  for." 

"  Well,  perhaps  I  will  ;  but  he'll 
only  be  sorry  a  little  while,  and  then 
plague  me  again." 

"  Then  make  him  repent  again  in 
the  same  way.  Let  me  tell  you  what 
the  Bible  says  about  it.  ?  If  thy 
brother  trespass  against  thee,  rebuke 
him;  and,  if  he  repent,  forgive  him. 


THE  PLATE   OF  CANDY.  Ill 

And  if  he  trespass  against  thee  seven 
times  in  a  day,  and,  seven  times  in  a 
day,  turn  again  to  thee,  saying,  I  re- 
pent, thou  shalt  forgive  him.' r 

"Is  that  in  the  Bible?"  said  Freddie. 
"  Does  Jesus  say  that?  " 

:?  Yes:  they  are  the  words  of  Jesus 
to  those  who  love  him.  I  am  going 
downstairs  a  minute:  you  just  talk  to 
Jesus  a  little  about  it,  and  you  will 
soon  find  out  what  is  best  to  do." 

When  Mrs.  Percy  left  Freddie,  she 
looked  about  for  Bob;  for  she  had  a 
little  curiosity  to  know  whether  he 
was  happy  or  not.  She  found  him 
looking  listlessly  out  of  the  window. 
The  marbles  and  other  playthings 
were  scattered  about  on  the  floor, 
and  seemed  to  have  no  attraction. 

"  Bob,"  said  she,  "  where  is  Fred- 
die?" 

WI   don't  know,"  said   he,  without 


112  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

looking  at  her,  "  he  went  off  and  left 
me  all  alone.  I  don't  care,  though: 
I  like  to  look  out  of  the  window." 

He  did  care.  She  knew  that  very 
well,  and  so  did  he.  She  did  not  say 
any  thing  more,  however,  but  left 
him  to  the  stings  of  conscience. 

She  went  back  to  her  room,  and 
found  Freddie  radiant. 

"  Oh,  I  know  all  about  it  now," 
said  he.  "  I  let  Jesus  tell  me  what  he 
would  do,  if  he  was  me.  Now,  give 
me  the  candy  and  the  pretty  blue 
plate:  I'll  fix  it." 

His  mother  opened  the  box,  and 
took  out  some  candy  strawberries, 
two  quarters  of  an  orange  and  two  of 
lemon,  beautifully  imitated  in  sugar, 
and  laid  them  temptingly  on  the  blue 
china  plate,  with  its  gold  border  of 
grapes  and  grape-leaves.  It  was  a 
pretty  sight.  Freddie  took  it  and 


THE  PLATE    OF   CANDY.  113 

held  it  up  triumphantly.  As  he 
crossed  the  floor,  where  the  sunlight 
fell  upon  him,  lighting  up  his  golden 
curls  and  radiant  face,  his  mother 
gazed  fondly  at  him;  and,  when  he 
had  gone,  she  offered  up  a  silent 
prayer  that  he  might  carry  love  and 
forgiveness,  successfully,  to  the  un- 
happy child  who  had  committed  the 
offence  against  this  precious  little 
one. 

"Bob,"  said  Freddie,  as  he  came 
up  to  the  window,  carrying  the  plate 
very  carefully,  "  I  have  come  to  tell 
you  that  you  hurt  me,  and  so  I  have 
brought  some  pretty  candy  for  you, 
and  I  thought  perhaps  you  would  feel 
sorry  to  me,  and  make  me  forgive 
you.  Won't  you,  Bob?" 

Bob  looked  thunder-struck  for  a 
minute,  and  kept  on  looking  out  of 
the  window.  This  was  evidently  an 


LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

unexpected  turn  of  affairs,  and  he  did 
not  know  how  to  meet  it. 

"  Do  feel  sorry  to  me,  Bob,"  con- 
tinued Freddie:  "I  want  to  love 
you." 

Bob  had  too  much  nobleness  to  re- 
sist this,  and  he  turned  towards  the 
plate,  and  finally  looked  frankly  at 
Freddie.  His  troubled  face  caught 
the  beams  of  love  and  peace  that 
were  shining  there  for  him;  and,  kiss- 
ing his  little  cousin,  said  without 
the  least  effort,  but  with  apparent 
relief,  — 

"I   am   sorry,    Freddie;    do    love 
me." 

"Oh,  yes!  I'll  love  you;  and  you 
won't  hurt  me  any  more,  Bob:  will 
you?  Come  now,  eat  some  straw- 
berry; "  and  Freddie  held  up  a  tempt- 
ing one,  to  put  into  Bob's  mouth.  Bob 
did  the  same  for  Freddie,  and  then 


THE  PLATE   OF   CANDY. 

they  had  a  laugh  over  it,  and  were 
soon  seated  at  a  little  stand,  feeding 
one  another  with  the  delicious  morsels. 

Soon  after,  Susy  and  Olive  came 
in.  They  had  been  taking  their  dolls 
to  walk. 

r<:  What  have  you  been  eating, 
boys  ?  "  said  Olive,  when  she  saw  the 
empty  plate  between  them. 

"Love,"  said  Bob:  "  sweet,  wasn't 
it,  Freddie?" 

Freddie  laughed,  and  said  he  would 
go  and  ask  his  mamma'for  some  more 
love,  to  give  Olive  and  Susy.  He 
went  upstairs  with  the  plate. 

While  he  was  gone,  Bob  told  the 
girls  that  he  didn't  mean  to  plague 
Freddie  any  more,  for  he  shouldn't 
dare  to;  and,  besides,  he  didn't  think 
he  wanted  to. 

"  Why,"  said  Olive,  "  what  has  hap- 
pened?" 


n6 


LITTLE   FREDDIE. 


"Oh!"  said  Bob,  "he  has  got  too 
much  love  in  him:  there  is  no  fun  in 
plaguing  him.  It  only  hurts  me." 

Freddie  appeared  before  his  mother, 
with  the  empty  plate,  and  told  her 
that  he  would  like  some  more  love  to 
give  Olive  and  Susy,  if  she  pleased. 

"What  did  Bob  say  to  you?" 

"  Oh !  he  looked  wondered  for  a 
minute,  and  then  he  looked  glad,  and 
said  he  was  sorry,  and  then  he  called 
the  candy  love:  wasn't  that  funny?  " 

Freddie's  mother  looked  glad  too, 
and  willingly  took  out  more  of  the 
pretty  candy  for  the  loving  Freddie 
to  bestow. 

Olive  and  Susy  were  delighted  be- 
yond measure  with  the  sweet  loves, 
as  they  called  them,  that  Freddie 
brought,  and  went  off  to  play  "  tea" 
with  their  dolls;  leaving  the  happy 
boys  at  their  marbles. 


THE  PLATE    OF   CANDY.  H7 

It  is  easy  to  believe,  that  Bob  and 
Freddie  were  firm  friends  after  this. 
They  had  tested  each  other;  and  the 
little  one,  in  his  weakness,  was  victo- 
rious, because  he  had  the  strength 
of  a  higher  power,  which,  as  he  trusted 
it,  was  made  his  own. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

A   TALK   WITH    RIA. 

"  FREDDIE,"  said  Ria  one  day, 
"  did  Jesus  ever  tell  you  about 
heaven  ?  You  know  you  prayed  about 
it  one  morning." 

"  I  never  asked  him  much  about  it, 
for  I  did  not  seem  to  care." 

"Why  not?"  said  Ria. 

"Oh!  I  suppose  I  don't  need  it.  It 
wouldn't  be  food,  I  guess." 

"  Why,  don't  you  want  to  go  to 
heaven  when  you  die?" 

r?Yes:  I  suppose  so;  I  want  to  be 
with  Jesus;  but  he  comes  to  me  now, 
and  I  think  that  is  heaven  enough. 
Don't  you  think  he  is  as  good  as 
heaven,  mamma?" 


A    TALK    WITH  RIA. 

''Yes,"  said  his  mamma;  "it  is 
heaven  where  he  is." 

:t  Then,  when  we  die,  we  will  go 
into  a  larger  heaven:  won't  we?" 
asked  Freddie. 

T  Yes:  the  longer  we  live  with  him, 
the  larger  our  heaven  will  become, 
whether  it  be  here  or  hereafter." 

"  I  didn't  know  we  could  have 
heaven  here,"  said  Ria,  "  where  there 
is  so  much  trouble  and  sin." 

*  There  can  never  be  heaven  where 
there  is  sin:  that  is  to  be  overcome." 

"How?"  said  Ria. 

"By  believing  in  Jesus  and  trusting 
him.  Wherever  that  is  done  per- 
fectly, there  is  no  sin,  and  heaven  has 
come." 

"  Why,  that  seems  an  easy  way  to 
get  heaven." 

"  It  is  not  eas}7,  and  we  could  never 
do  it  without  help.  Then,  too,  the 


I2O  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

more  we  sin,  the  harder  it  is.  That 
is  the  reason  why  it  is  easier  for  little 
children  to  love  and  trust  the  Saviour. 
Sin  has  less  power  over  them." 

"Mamma,"  said  Freddie,  "I  am 
afraid  of  sin.  Will  it  ever  get  me 
away  from  Jesus  ?  " 

"Not  if  you  resist  it.  The  Bible 
says,  'Resist  the  devil,  and  he  will  flee 
from  you.'  r 

r?  Who  is  the  devil,  mamma?  " 

"The  father  of  sin." 

"  Does  he  get  into  our  hearts  too?" 
said  Freddie. 

!?  Yes,  unless  Jesus  is  there:  he  never 
goes  where  Jesus  is.  He  always  tries, 
though,  to  get  Jesus  out;  so  that  we 
have  to  watch  for  him.  Jesus  says, 
*  Watch  and  pray,  lest  ye  enter  into 
temptation.' ': 

"Oh!  I  am  afraid,"  said  Freddie, 
"of  th,at  father  of  sin." 


A    TALK   WITH  RIA.  121 

:f  You  need  not  be  afraid  while  you 
love,  my  dear  boy;  for  love  casteth 
out  fear.  Jesus  says,  r  I  will  keep  thee 
from  the  hour  of  temptation.'  He 
says  too,  ?  Hold  that  fast  which  thou 
hast.'  He  wants  you  to  do  all  you 
can  to  keep  him,  and  then  he  will 
keep  you." 

"But  he  won't  come  to  me  at  all," 
said  Ria,  "  because  I  have  so  much 
sin." 

"  But  he  came  into  the  world,  and 
suffered  and  died  to  save  you  from 
sin.  There  is  a  way  to  escape  from 
it.  He  asks  you  to  repent,  and  trust 
him,  and  let  him  love  you." 

"  That's  the  way  I  did  to  Bob,"  said 
Freddie:  "didn't  I?  I  know  that  is 
the  way  Jesus  does,  because  he  told 
me  how.  Why,  Ria,  he  is  saying,  Do 
repent  to  me,  because  I  want  to  love 
you.  Do  hear  him,  Ria,  and  be  sorry 


122  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

to  him;  and  then  you  will  be  happy: 
it  is  so  nice  to  love." 

"Dear  child,  I  am  sorry;  but  then 
I  am  so  bad  that  he  can  never  love 
me." 

:<:  Why,  yes,  he  can  :  he  is  so  big 
and  strong,  he  can  do  any  thing;  and 
the  weaker  you  are,  the  better  he  likes 
you.  Do  try  it,  Ria." 

"But  I  do  not  feel  weak.  I  feel 
strong  and  bad." 

"  But  you  ought  to  feel  little  and 
weak,  and  then,  when  you  are  sorry, 
you  can  get  into  his  love.  If  you 
would  only  once  get  in  there,  you 
would  never  want  to  come  out,  and 
you  wouldn't  feel  bad  any  more.  I 
think  it  is  a  great  deal  better  to  be  lit- 
tle, to  get  in;  and  then  grow  large 
and  strong,  so  that  it  will  be  hard  to 
get  out  when  that  old  father  of  sin 


A    TALK   WITH  RIA.  123 

"  Sin  cannot  reach  you,  if  you  are 
strong  in  the  Saviour's  love,"  said  his 
mamma.  "  But  all  must  be  little  ones 
when  they  come  to  him.  Do  you 
remember,  Ria,  what  Freddie's  prayer 
was  that  morning?" 

:?  Yes,  ma'am :  he  prayed  that  he 
might  know  where  to  find  Jesus,  for 
he  wanted  him  to  feed  his  soul  and 
tell  him  about  heaven." 

"  Do  you  think  your  prayer  has 
been  answered,  Freddie?" 

"Oh,  yes,  ma'am!  I  found  Jesus, 
and  he  feeds  my  soul  all  the  time." 

"  And  if  the  presence  of  Jesus  is 
heaven,  then  you  are  learning  all  the 
time  about  that." 

"Why,  yes,  so  I  am!" 

"  The  Bible  tells  us  about f  the  holy 
city  that  cometh  down  from  God  out 
of  heaven.'  In  one  place,  it  is  called 
'the  new  Jerusalem; '  and,  in  another, 


124  LITTLE  FREDDIE. 

'the  Lord  is  there.'  This  means  the 
presence  of  Christ  in  the  hearts  of 
those  who  love  him;  and  it  will 
keep  coming  until  it  fills  the  whole 
earth." 

?  Then    heaven    comes    down    to 
earth,"  said  Ria. 

"God  comes  through  Christ,  and 
dwells  with  men.  ?  And  he  will  wipe 
away  all  tears  from  their  eyes;  and 
there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither 
sorrow  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there 
be  any  more  pain.'  This  is  heav- 
en." 

"  But  I  thought  all  that  would  come 
at  the  end  of  the  world,"  said  Ria. 

"  It  is  coming  all  the  time  to  those 
who  open  their  hearts  to  receive  it. 
There  is  nothing  but  sin  between  us 
and  heaven." 

"  But  we  shall  have  to  be  sick  and 
die,"  said  Ria. 


A    TALK   WITH  RIA.  12$ 

:*Yes;  but  the  sting  of  suffering 
and  death  is  sin;  and  Christ  has  taken 
that  away  for  those  who  love  him. 
His  presence  is  sufficient  for  all  things, 
even  to  raise  us  above  the  effects  of 
our  own  sin,  if  we  repent  of  it." 

"  Mamma,"  said  Freddie,  "  do  we 
go  to  heaven  as  soon  as  we  love 
Jesus?" 

"  Heaven    comes    to    us    through 
him." 

"  How  good  he  is,  mamma!  He 
comes  to  us,  and  feeds  our  souls,  and 
gives  us  heaven  too!  " 


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